Art historians and cycling enthusiasts alike are abuzz with excitement over the recent discovery of a previously unknown Vincent van Gogh painting. The artwork, tentatively titled “Wheat Field with Wayward Bicycle,” was found hidden behind a false wall in a Dutch windmill, wedged between sacks of flour.
The painting depicts one of Van Gogh’s signature golden wheat fields, but with an unexpected twist – a comically out-of-place bicycle perched atop the swaying stalks. Art experts are baffled by this anachronistic addition to Van Gogh’s oeuvre.
“We always knew Vincent had a whimsical side, but this takes the cake – or should I say, the bread?” quipped Dr. Aria Brushstroke, head curator at the Van Gogh Museum. “It appears he was not only ahead of his time in art but also in predicting the rise of extreme off-road cycling.”
The painting’s provenance has been traced back to Van Gogh’s brief and ill-fated stint as a bicycle salesman in 1888. According to newly uncovered letters, the artist attempted to supplement his income by peddling bicycles door-to-door in the French countryside.
“I fear I am not cut out for this venture, dear Theo,” Van Gogh reportedly wrote to his brother. “I have sold but one bicycle, and that was to myself. In a moment of frustration, I flung it into a wheat field, where it made such a striking image that I simply had to paint it. Perhaps I shall stick to painting after all.”
The discovery has sparked a heated debate in the art world. Some critics argue that the painting is a brilliant commentary on the intrusion of technology into nature. Others insist it’s simply evidence that turpentine fumes and bicycle assembly don’t mix.
Regardless of interpretation, “Wheat Field with Wayward Bicycle” is set to go on display next month. The Van Gogh Museum has announced special “Pedal Through the Paintings” nights, where visitors can view the artwork while attempting to cycle through a recreated wheat field (helmets and band-aids provided).
As for the humble miller who discovered the masterpiece? He’s using his newfound fame to launch a line of Van Gogh-inspired artisanal breads, complete with swirling patterns baked into the crust and the tagline “A slice of art in every loaf!”