The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam unveiled a captivating exhibition on 28 September, marrying the enchanting world of Pokémon with the artistic genius of Vincent van Gogh. This delightful showcase features a selection of Pokémon species reimagined in the iconic style of the Dutch master himself.
Visitors had the opportunity to not only admire the mesmerising “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” painting but also receive an exclusive Pokémon card bearing this enchanting artwork. However, it appears that the distribution of these limited-edition cards at the Van Gogh Museum has been halted prematurely.
The official event website displays a notice that states, “the promotional Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat trading card will no longer be issued by the Van Gogh Museum.” The FAQ section on the page goes on to address the situation with the prompt: “Why is the Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum promo card no longer available?”. The provided answer explains:
“The Van Gogh Museum and The Pokémon Company International prioritize the safety and security of visitors and staff. Regrettably, a small group of individuals has created an undesirable situation, which led us to the challenging decision to withdraw the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card from the museum. By taking this action, we aim to ensure that visitors can fully enjoy the special collection of Pokémon paintings and the entire museum in a safe and pleasant environment.”
— Van Gogh Museum
As is often the case with limited-edition Pokémon cards, opportunistic scalpers wasted no time procuring these cards and offering them for resale online at inflated prices. Copies of “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” is being sold on eBay, with listings ranging from US$70 and upward to over US$200, depending on the seller. There are also a number of other products from the collection that are being sold, such as an Eevee figure and artwork featuring Snorlax.
Thankfully, there’s a silver lining for fans of the “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” card. The English-language official Pokémon account announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the card will be accessible for Pokémon Center patrons. To secure this collectible, a purchase of US$30 will be necessary, which is considerably more reasonable than the exorbitant prices set by scalpers.
The Van Gogh Museum also mentions that Pokémon will also reintroduce the promo card in participating retailers in the Netherlands early next year. However, it will not be available via the Van Gogh Museum.
The Pokémon exhibit at the Van Gogh Museum runs till 7 January.
Edwin is a seasoned raconteur with a lifelong passion for video games, comic books, movies, and more. He thrives on captivating stories and immersive world-building, with a soft spot for adorable monsters.
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