News about LEGO Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers Unveiled with Hidden Surprise for Art Enthusiasts

The first thing to know about this build is its impressive size. It stands at 21 inches high and 16 inches wide, making it approximately 60% the size of the original painting. This substantial size makes it a bit unwieldy to handle, but it's certainly eye-catching and commands attention.

Out March 1### LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

0$199.99 at LEGO StoreThis set is crafted with a size and scope that demands to be taken seriously. It's not just a tribute to one of the world's most iconic artworks; it's designed to be displayed as art in your home. This reflects LEGO's ongoing transformation from a mere curiosity for adults into a serious hobby.

LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

93 ImagesVincent van Gogh created his renowned series of Sunflowers while residing in Arles, France, during a highly productive phase of his life. He had a profound emotional connection to the sunflower, viewing it as a symbol of gratitude and using it as an artistic muse. In a letter to a friend, he expressed this sentiment:

"If [Georges] Jeannin has the peony, [Ernest] Quost the hollyhock, I indeed, before others, have taken the sunflower."

In August 1888, van Gogh painted four versions of sunflowers in a vase. He revisited this motif in January 1889, creating a repetition of the third version and two different repetitions of the fourth version.

Among these seven paintings, the fourth version and its two repetitions are the most celebrated. The original fourth version (F454) is displayed at the National Gallery in London, England. One repetition (F457) can be seen at the Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo, Japan, while the other (F458) – notable for its vibrant colors and iconic composition – is showcased at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Established in 1973, the Van Gogh Museum collaborated with LEGO to produce the LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers set, which pays homage to the F458 repetition. This set is designed as a three-dimensional relief, using abstract pieces to mimic van Gogh's distinctive thick brushstrokes.

Upon opening the box, you'll find 34 numbered bags and a detailed instruction booklet with a QR code. Scanning this code leads to a podcast that delves into van Gogh's life and the inspirations behind his work.

I appreciated the build's real-world practicality. You start by assembling the painting's frame, which you can then lean against a wall. Next, you build the canvas with the painting on top.

To complete the set, you mount the canvas into the frame and secure it with pins, adding a personal touch that mirrors the process of staging and presenting a real piece of art, enhancing the set's perceived value and importance.

There's a delightful Easter egg hidden within the canvas construction. Art experts noted that van Gogh extended the height of the canvas with a wooden strip during the painting of F458 to give the sunflowers more room.

LEGO cleverly replicated this detail by having you build the canvas and then attach a separate strip at the top with pins. The brown bricks used for this strip even mimic the look of wood, as seen circled in red in the image below.

This seemingly minor detail is what makes the build so special. It's a subtle nod to the artist's process, known only to the builder, adding an element of exclusivity and personal connection to the finished piece.

Constructing the full-bloom sunflowers can be repetitive, but it's a necessary part of achieving their realistic look. Van Gogh didn't take shortcuts, and neither should you. Take breaks and enjoy the process; this isn't a set to rush through.

What I particularly enjoyed were the wilting flowers and those depicted in profile, which initially seemed abstract but made perfect sense when viewed from a distance.

A common question from other adults is, "After you build a LEGO set, where do you put it?" For this set, the answer is clear: on my dining room wall. This is the perfect mindset for potential builders to have. You know exactly where it will go, and you can look forward to enjoying it long after completion. A week after finishing it, I still find new details to appreciate.

The LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers, Set #31215, retails for $199.99 and consists of 2615 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.