More than a century after his death, Vincent van Gogh continues to captivate the world. From science to pop culture, his influence has only grown stronger this past year. Here are three ways his legacy is still making waves.
Art That Keeps Resurfacing
Van Gogh’s Portrait of Doctor Rey was once used to patch a chicken coop. Decades later, it’s considered a masterpiece. Meanwhile, a legal battle over a small French garden tied to his final painting, Tree Roots, reminded us that even the places he painted are part of his legacy. And let’s not forget the garage sale painting briefly mistaken for a lost Van Gogh—proof that the hunger for his work is still alive and well.
The Starry Night isn’t just visually stunning—it’s mathematically fascinating. Physicists found that the swirls in the painting mirror the laws of turbulence. In another case, a solar physicist pinpointed the exact place and time of Lane of Poplars at Sunset, showing that Van Gogh’s skies may have been more accurate than imagined.
Pop Culture, Reimagined
This year, Van Gogh’s art jumped off museum walls and into living rooms with Lego’s Sunflowers set, a follow-up to their bestselling Starry Night. Meanwhile, London’s National Gallery invited fans to view his work overnight—proof that demand for immersive, intimate Van Gogh experiences is only growing.
Whether it’s a scientific study or a children’s toy, Van Gogh’s legacy is everywhere—and it’s not slowing down. His work continues to transcend art, blending into science, pop culture, and everyday life in ways even he couldn’t have imagined.
