Van Gogh in

Church

Since August 1882, Vincent’s father had been parson of the Dutch Reformed church in Nuenen. Its congregation numbered circa one hundred worshipers. In February 1884, while living in Nuenen, Vincent painted the church for his mother, who was bedridden with a broken thigh bone. He probably worked on the painting again in the autumn of 1885, adding in the churchgoers. It is now known as Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen.

Vincent likely seldom attended services in the church or not at all, as he had turned his back on Christianity several years earlier and due to his strained relationship with his father.