March 17 1901
Van Gogh paintings shown

On March 17, 1901, paintings by Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh are shown at the Bernheim-Jeune gallery in Paris, France. The 71 paintings, which captured their subjects in bold brushstrokes and expressive colors, caused a sensation across the art world. Eleven years before, while living in Auvers-sur-Oise outside Paris, Van Gogh had committed suicide without any notion that his work was destined to win acclaim beyond his wildest dreams. One of the paintings shown in the 1901 exhibit--the Yasuda Sunflowers--would sell for just under $40 million at a Christie’s auction in 1987.