Rose with Sunflowers 24 x 20 http://www.mahoneyart.comYou can purchase this MM original for slightly less than a VVG original.
Vincent Willem Van Gogh was born March 30, 1853
Vincent Van Gogh could not have imagined his paintings would become so valuable. And he might have been embarassed at the mythical character his persona has become.
His tormented life, with little regard for money, has become the ideal for the supposedly true artist. By our love of drama, he stands atop the mythical pyramid of selfless artist heroes.
Many people today attempt to jump past the actual work of painting and try to establish the persona first. However, I don't think anyone would know of Vincent's sad life, if his paintings weren't what they are.
I was at the CM Russell Art Show in Great Falls MT two weeks ago. While visiting with an established western painter, the subject of art history came up in the conversation. This fellow had the opinion that Van Gogh was only famous because of his crazy life. When I asked, he admitted that he had never seen a Van Gogh painting in person. He then had to listen to my Van Gogh experience.
I was a fine art major at St. John's University in Minnesota way back in 1977. Our class took a field trip to The Minneapolis Institute of Art where I spent the entire day looking at work by virtually every great artist; Renoir, Monet, Goya, El Greco, Rembrandt, Van Dyke, Rubens, Raphael, etc., etc..
Just before we were scheduled to leave, I wandered into a small, unidentified room by accident. There were two large canvases on the wall. Even after seeing all the other great works, the hair on the back of my neck stood up, and a shiver went through me, as these two paintings moved on the wall in front of me. I doubt they travel around much anymore, but I was looking at 'Starry Night on the Rhone' and one of the 'Cypress in Fields' paintings (with the big sun in the sky.) To tell you the truth, having seen them has added difficulty to my life . The thick broken surface of those paintings was moving somehow, and they still haunt me. From that day, I have felt my job as an artist was to create paintings that were alive in some way on their own. It was evidently possible.
I am reluctantly grateful to Vincent in other ways as well. He wasn't just another painter, he was a seeker and searcher. He tried to be a pastor, but they kicked him out for being too empathetic. After being turned away from his ideal, he returned to a childhood ability to draw. He walked through places few are brave enough to go.
The artists Pissarro, Lucian, Lauzet, Bernard, Vincent's brother Theo and many friends were at his funeral. A letter Bernard wrote about his internment was very touching. He said that everyone loved Vincent. He was the kindest person they all knew. His casket was surrounded by yellow flowers; the color Vincent thought was joy in the human heart. His friend Dr. Gachet tried to say a few words when they lowered the casket, but he was crying too hard to say more than a confused farewell. According to Emile Bernard, the sun swirled hot above yellow fields and a vivid blue sky on the day they buried him. July 29 1890.
(There are theories that he may not have shot himself. He might have been protecting a young boy who shot him by accident. Also, he didn't cut off his entire ear; only the lobe.) (Ironically, the Cadmium, Barium, Cobalt, Lead, etc. in his great paintings probably poisoned his mind and killed him.)
I have been to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. It was pretty amazing. I to was ignorant to a lot of the stories about him and although i always thought that his paintings were unique, i never knew how truly moving they really are until I was standing in front of them. I too got the since that they were moving. Looking at them is like looking at a 3D picture with out the glasses. Prints do not do his paintings justice. I will forever be a fan of the hopeless romantic Van Gogh.
ReplyDelete-Lukas Miller