LEGO Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers Unveiled with Hidden Surprise for Art Enthusiasts %v

The first thing you need to know about the LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers set is its impressive size. Measuring 21 inches high and 16 inches wide, it's approximately 60% the size of the original painting. This makes it large enough to be somewhat unwieldy when you're trying to pick it up, but perfect for displaying as a statement piece in your home.

LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

Priced at $199.99 at the LEGO Store, this set is designed to be taken seriously. It's not just a tribute to one of the world's most famous artworks; it's also meant to be displayed in your home as a piece of art. This marks an important evolution for LEGO, transitioning from a mere adult curiosity to a respected adult hobby.

LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

Vincent van Gogh painted his renowned series of Sunflowers during his time in Arles, France, a period marked by prolific creativity. Van Gogh felt a deep emotional connection to the sunflower, associating it with gratitude. He even considered it his artistic muse, as he noted in a letter to a friend:

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

In August 1888, van Gogh created four versions of sunflowers in a vase. He revisited this theme in January 1889, painting 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 housed at the National Gallery in London, England. One repetition (F457) can be found at the Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo, Japan. The other repetition (F458), arguably the most iconic due to its vivid color composition, is displayed at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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

Upon opening the box, you'll find 34 numbered bags and a printed instruction booklet, complete 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 found the build's practicality to be one of its highlights. You start by constructing the painting's frame, which I leaned against the wall once completed. Next, you build the canvas with the painting on it.

To complete the build, you mount the canvas into the frame and secure it with pins. This process mimics the real-life staging and presentation of art, enhancing the set's perceived value and importance.

There's a delightful Easter egg hidden in the canvas' construction. Art experts discovered that van Gogh extended the height of the canvas during the painting process with a wooden strip at the top to give the sunflowers more room. LEGO cleverly incorporated this detail by having you build the canvas first, then attach a separate strip at the top with pins. The brown bricks used to mimic the appearance of wood are circled in red in the photo below.

This seemingly minor detail adds a layer of authenticity and exclusivity, known only to the builder. It evokes the trial and error that even a master like van Gogh experienced, and it's a secret you can choose to share with others.

Building the full-bloom sunflowers can be tedious, but this reflects the meticulous nature of van Gogh's work. Take breaks and savor the process; this isn't a set to rush through. The wilting flowers and those shown in profile add a unique touch. Initially, they may seem abstract, but they make perfect sense when viewed from a distance.

A common question among adult LEGO enthusiasts is, "Where do you put it after you build it?" For this set, the answer is clear: on your dining room wall. This set is designed to be displayed and enjoyed long after you've finished building it. A week after completing it, I still find new details to appreciate.

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