View Van Gogh's olive groves at Dallas Museum of Art

Why it matters: The exhibit, which closes Feb. 6, goes beyond the starry night that Vincent Van Gogh is best known for and offers a glimpse into the final year of the artist’s life through his view on one subject: olive trees.

The intrigue: The Dallas exhibition is the first to focus solely on the olive grove series and also features an analysis of the artist’s process and writings.

• A research team, including two DMA employees, examined the paints used in the olive grove series and looked at microscopic details of the paintings to establish a timeline of the works.

Our thought bubble: We have never thought so much about how certain dyes in paints and the passage of time can affect the appearance of the final artwork more than a century after the artist’s death.

If you go: While admission to the museum is free, adult admission to the Van Gogh exhibit is $20 on weekdays and $25 on weekends.