To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Van Gogh Museum has launched a special exhibition in collaboration with Pokémon, a popular Japanese media franchise that has been a big part of many people’s childhood. The paintings showcased are inspired by some of the masterpieces of the Dutch artist. You would see Pikachu wearing the grey felt hat in one of Van Gogh’s portraits and Snorlax lying lazily on the bed in “The Bedroom” painting.

While it seems that the adorable creatures have nothing to do with Post-Impressionism, the idea of the collaboration came from Van Gogh’s admiration for Japanese prints and culture though he had never been to the Asian country. From 1886 to 1887, the artist bought a few hundreds of cheap Japanese prints in Paris and recreated a print by Keisai Eisen that appeared on a magazine cover. Researchers also found that The Starry Night, which is housed in The Museum of Modern Art in New York, is likely inspired by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

Containing the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s artwork, the museum chronicles the life of the artist and the progress of his painting styles and skills, offering visitors an opportunity to learn more about him on a deeper level. Some of the most significant work you must not miss include The Potato Eaters and Sunflowers, while my favorite is the Almond Blossoms. Representing awakening and hope, the painting was made to celebrate the birth of his nephew who later founded the museum.

The Pokemon x Van Gogh exhibition will last until 7 January 2024. Be sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment. Also, don’t forget to pick up a worksheet at the reception counter so you can do the treasure hunt and get a Pikachu postcard as a souvenir.