Maison Van Gogh, House museum in Cuesmes, Belgium.
The Van Gogh House is a residential building in Cuesmes where the Dutch artist lived from 1879 to 1880 while working as a missionary among coal miners. The house displays modest workers' housing architecture with preserved rooms that document his time in the region.
Vincent van Gogh arrived in Cuesmes in 1879 to work as a preacher supporting impoverished coal miners, a mission he pursued with intensity. His stay marked a turning point when he abandoned his religious calling in favor of artistic expression focused on human suffering.
The house reflects how van Gogh lived during his time as a preacher in this coal-mining region, and the rooms show the modest setting where he began to draw. Visitors can see the everyday spaces that shaped his early artistic work.
The museum is best reached on foot and sits in a quiet part of Cuesmes near other historic sites in the area. It is worth checking ahead whether guided tours are available, as they provide deeper insight into van Gogh's experience during his stay.
While staying here, van Gogh created the work titled "The Diggers," one of his first drawings that shows his genuine sympathy for the coal miners. This artwork remains on display and marks the exact moment when his artistic identity began to take shape.
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