A Van Gogh Painting Hidden for 60 Years
Friday, October 16, 2026178 words3 minutes358 reads
Vincent van Gogh's Chestnut Trees in Blossom has returned to public view after more than 60 years. The painting belongs to a private South American collection, so visitors had few chances to see it. Hundreds came to a showing in Hong Kong. It is due to be auctioned in New York on November 18.
Van Gogh painted the flowering chestnut trees in May 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, a French town. He died only weeks later, aged 37. Works from this final period attract interest because they are closely connected to the end of his career. Many major Van Gogh paintings are already in museums and are rarely offered for sale.
The painting could sell for about $180 million. This is an estimate, not a sale price. If the bidding reaches that level, it could set a new auction record for Van Gogh. Buyers may value the painting's history, condition, rarity and long absence from the market. Yet a high price does not mean the public will keep seeing it. A new owner could place it in another private collection.
