Van Gogh’s “The Poet’s Garden” from 1888 is pictured.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House will present “Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers,” a special cinematic exploration of one of the most popular artists of all time, on Saturday at 1 p.m. The screening is part of the Opera House’s Arts in the Afternoon series of events, sponsored by Dr. James M. & Marcia Merrins.

Two hundred years after its opening and a century after acquiring its first Van Gogh works, the National Gallery, in London, is hosting the UK’s biggest ever Van Gogh exhibition. Van Gogh is not only one of the most beloved artists of all time, but perhaps the most misunderstood.

This cinematic production offers a chance to re-examine and better understand this iconic artist. Focusing on his unique creative process, “Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers” explores the artist’s years in the south of France, where he revolutionized his style.

Van Gogh became consumed with a passion for storytelling in his art, turning the world around him into vibrant, idealized spaces and symbolic characters. Poets and lovers filled his imagination; everything he did in the south of France served this new obsession. In part, this is what caused his notorious breakdown, but it didn’t hold back his creativity as he created masterpiece after masterpiece. Explore one of art history’s most pivotal periods in this once-in-a-century show.

This production runs approximately one hour, 30 minutes.

Individual tickets are $15, ($10 students). Tickets may be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 716-679-1891, Tuesday-Friday, 12-4:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online anytime at www.fredopera.org. Opera House programming is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County.

For this production, the Opera House is equipped with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or Opera House staff member.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.