Prior to its inclusion in the exhibition, titled ‘Van Gogh. Stories of one picture’, the work underwent extensive authentication to dispel any doubts as to its origins. It was examined by experts from the Laboratory for Analysis and Non-Destructive Testing of Historical Objects (LANBOZ) of the Kraków branch of the National Museum, who verified that it is the work of Vincent Van Gogh. Additional expertise was provided by the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and specialists from Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum.

The research revealed that the artwork was produced at an early stage of Van Gogh’s career, with art historians pinpointing its creation to early September 1883 . “We carried out a detailed analysis of the pigments used in the work,” said Dr. Julio del Hoyo, the director of LANBOZ. “These pigments not only corresponded to those described by van Gogh in letters to his brother but were also consistent with the materials he used in other works from this period.”

The museum said the painting would show visitors part of the path Van Gogh traveled to become one of the world’s most famous artists.

“We hope that this picture will start a new narrative on the subject of the John Paull II collection, known as the Porczyński Gallery,” the exhibition’s curator, Anna Biskupska, was quoted by the warszawawpigulce.pl website as saying. “From now on, we will talk about the collection in a scientific manner, leaving aside the emotional approach.”

The exhibition – which includes historical context to the work as well as details of the research and conservation work conducted on it – runs until December 8.