The first thing to know about the LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers set is its impressive size. It measures 21 inches high and 16 inches wide, which is approximately 60% the size of the original painting. This makes it a substantial piece that can be a bit unwieldy to handle but perfect for displaying as a statement piece in your home.

Out March 1

LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

0$199.99 at LEGO Store

This set is not just a playful homage to one of the world's most renowned artworks; it's designed to be taken seriously and displayed as art. It marks a significant evolution in LEGO's journey from being a mere adult curiosity to a respected adult hobby.

LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

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Vincent van Gogh painted his iconic series of Sunflowers during his time in Arles, France, a period marked by prolific creativity. Van Gogh had a deep emotional connection to the sunflower, associating it with gratitude. He considered it his artistic muse, as he expressed 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, and revisited this theme in January 1889, producing a repetition of the third version and two different repetitions of the fourth version.

Of these seven paintings, the fourth version and its two repetitions are the most celebrated. The original fourth version (F454) is showcased at the National Gallery in London, England. One repetition (F457) is displayed at the Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo, Japan, and the other repetition (F458) – renowned for its vibrant color composition – is housed 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 tribute to the F458 repetition. This set is crafted as a three-dimensional relief, using 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 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 real-world practicality appealing. You start by constructing the painting's frame, which you can lean against the wall while you work on the canvas. The canvas, complete with the painting, is then built and mounted into the frame, secured with pins. This process adds a personal touch, mimicking the staging and presentation of real art, enhancing the set's perceived value and importance.

An intriguing Easter egg is hidden within the canvas's construction. Art experts discovered that van Gogh extended the height of the canvas with a wooden strip during the painting process to give the sunflowers more room. LEGO cleverly replicates this detail by having you build the canvas and then attach a separate strip at the top with pins. This detail, highlighted in red in the photo below, uses brown bricks to simulate wood.

This seemingly minor detail adds a layer of authenticity and exclusivity to the build. It's a subtle nod to the creative process that only the builder will appreciate, fostering a sense of connection to van Gogh's artistic journey.

Building the full-bloom sunflowers can be tedious, but it's a necessary part of achieving the realistic look. The repetition mirrors van Gogh's meticulous approach to his work. Take breaks and enjoy the process; this isn't a set to rush through.

I particularly enjoyed constructing the wilting flowers and those shown in profile. Initially, they seemed abstract, but stepping back reveals their place in the overall composition, turning what appeared random into recognizable stems and leaves.

A common question among adult LEGO enthusiasts is, "Where do you display your sets after building them?" For this set, the answer is clear: on my dining room wall. This set is designed with a specific purpose in mind – to be displayed as art. You can look forward to seeing it in your home, and it continues to delight long after completion. A week after finishing it, I still find new details to appreciate.

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

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