A Duel Over Van Gogh’s Legacy: The Battle for Auvers’s “Tree Roots”

The picturesque village of Auvers-sur-Oise faces a legal conflict after the discovery of Vincent Van Gogh's painted roots at the site of his final work, leading to a dispute over land ownership and public heritage.

In the charming village of Auvers-sur-Oise, celebrated for its artistic past and connection to Vincent Van Gogh, a recent decision has ignited a fierce legal battle over the preservation of the artist's last painting, “Tree Roots.” Identified by art historians as the final piece created by Van Gogh before his untimely death, the roots illustrated in the work still magically emerge from the landscape, attracting tourists eager to embrace the painter’s legacy.

The controversy began following a critical 2020 determination that the roots depicted, notably a prominent one from a black locust tree affectionately named the “elephant” by fans, were painted on the day the artist took his life. This revelation settled years of speculation regarding the timing of Van Gogh’s final work, but it simultaneously sparked an intense conflict between the auvers municipality and the private landowners housing the roots.

After declaring the “elephant” roots of historical significance, the local government claimed the land surrounding the site was public domain, arguing the need for maintenance. However, property owners Jean-François and Hélène Serlinger contested this assertion, leading to a court ruling that rejected the municipality's claims to part of their land.

Despite this setback, Auvers's determined mayor, Isabelle Mézières, has vowed to pursue further legal action in an effort to secure greater public access to the site. Following the judgment, she took to social media to voice her insistence that the roots represent a vital part of Auvers's cultural heritage, stating, "The Roots belong to the Auversois!"

This escalating dispute over Van Gogh’s tree roots casts a shadow over Auvers, where art tourism forms a key part of the local economy and typically experiences a resurgence each spring. With the population hovering around 7,000, the town relies heavily on the allure of its artistic connections, but the controversy now threatens to mar the season that usually brings celebration and prosperity to the region.