1986 Van Johnson “Van’s Road” Original Acrylic Painting, Arles, France

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Here is a wonderful 1986 original acrylic painting by actor and artist Van Johnson, titled Van’s Road and painted in … Read more Here is a wonderful 1986 original acrylic painting by actor and artist Van Johnson, titled Van’s Road and painted in Arles, France. Bursting with color and wonderfully expressive texture, the large-scale landscape depicts a winding pink road surrounded by brilliantly colored rooftops and dense flowering gardens beneath a saturated golden-yellow sky.

The painting has fantastic dimension, with areas of exceptionally thick, almost sculptural impasto throughout the flowers, rooftops and architectural details. I especially love Johnson’s fearless use of color—the combination of pink, yellow, cobalt blue, violet, red and green gives the entire scene an incredible energy.

According to the original provenance documentation retained with the painting, Johnson created Van’s Road while walking the very street in Arles where Vincent van Gogh had lived and painted. The title is a playful reference to both artists. The documentation further notes that Johnson credited a circle of fellow MGM colleagues with encouraging his painting and creativity, and that this work was offered in connection with a benefit for The Thalians Mental Health Center.

Signed “Van Johnson 86” at lower left. Presented in its gold-tone frame with the original provenance documentation retained on the reverse.

Overall dimensions: 50ʺW × 1.5ʺD × 38ʺH
Canvas: 48ʺW × 36ʺH See less