Tragic is what many consider the legacy left us by artist
VINCENT VAN GOGH. Why? Simply because VAN GOGH died before knowing
the acclaim that his art would receive.
Personally, I think this tragic ending follows suit with the life that VAN GOGH led. Ironically, it only seems fitting that a man who's work was greatly inspired by his dark life and health issues would only receive the commendation deserved in the darkness of death.
While being labeled as a post-impressionist artists, his efforts and talents in changing the way that art was seen during his lifetime have made his work and his name iconic. His talents were not limited to one specific medium, therefore, it is easy to understand why he is touted as one of the most famous artists of all time.
While his abilities as an artist are not to be questioned, I personally believe that VINCENT VAN GOGH'S success as an artist may be a result of his ability to tap into and channel the emotional instability that plagued the shadows of his life. VINCENT VAN GOGH, while many believe crazed, may in fact been one of the most honest artists when it came to accepting the "dark things" that are bound to plague us all at one time or another.
Raised in a staunchly religious and cultured atmosphere, his personal character development was stunted from an early age. VAN GOGH lacked self-confidence and self-esteem. Compounded into the equation were the social requirements that he was required to conform to. His youth was plagued with darkness as was his young-adulthood. Romances failed, jobs were lost, and yet he was determined to "give happiness by creating beauty."
VAN GOGH'S early works were therefore dark, somber pieces. A good example of this period in his life is the piece called "Potato Eaters," painted in 1885:
Shortly after painting this piece, VAN GOGH went to Paris where he met and befriended a group of artist we loving know as the IMPRESSIONISTS. Because of their influence his works began to "lighten" a bit as the IMPRESSIONISTS were all about capturing light in it's different forms.
During this time, things got interesting for VINCENT VAN GOGH. During a three year time span, artistic works poured from this man as though blood spilling from a wound. He worked constantly.
The IMPRESSIONISTS, as we have discussed, were "thinkers" as well as artists, and were known for their all-night discussions about change and art. VAN GOGH participated as best he could in this stimulating environment. But in order to stay up all night and paint all day, as his passion demanded, his health began to quickly deteriorate. Additionally, it was well known that VAN GOGH didn't take the best precautions with his health. He was known to be a constant smoker, and frequent drinker. He also drank excessive amounts of coffee, ate poorly in general, and fasted...or at least forgot to eat while being impassioned with his art.
A detail that I find interesting is that VINCENT VAN GOGH worked at his art passionately, as if it was an outpouring or color from his very soul. Oddly enough, it was rumored that the very paint he used was an irresistible snack that he partook in. I often wonder if it wasn't just the color of the paint that appealed to this man who was locked in a dark world in his own mind. He could take in the color and re-digest it out into a masterpiece of his own interpretation.
After mentioning this last tid-bit about VAN GOGH eating paint, I would be remiss to neglect the mention of his seizures. As a matter of fact, during one of these attacks, while inArles
These two stories are not the only oddities that detail this artist's life. One can't help but mention the health issues that plagued the life of VINCENT VAN GOGH. Epilepsy was one of the hypothesized afflictions, but other ailments may have included bi-polar disorder, lead poisoning, (most likely from the paint), Meniere's disease, syphilis, and mental illness. As a matter of fact, a laundry list of symptoms plagued this man. VAN GOGH himself detailed such symptoms as poor digestion, bad stomach, hallucinations, nightmares, stupor, absent mindedness, impotence, insomnia, and anxiety, while at an asylum for a year in 1889-1890.
Sadly, it was shortly after leaving the watchful eye and treatment at the asylum that VINCENT VAN GOGH took his own life in the spring of 1890. He shot himself, "for the good of all."
In looking at the life of VINCENT VAN GOGH, many questions arise. It could be assumed that during his lifetime his passion and talent may have been misunderstood. Who's to say that his passion and talent weren't the very things that plagued his mind and body. Whatever the case, while a VAN GOGH original is now greatly valued, he sold but one....yes...that's right...ONE painting before he died in 1890.
VAN GOGH'S finest works were produced in less than three years. He was constantly working in an impassioned state. He had to paint. It could be said that he painted feverously. His technique, brushstroke, intense color choices, surface tension, and evident movement and vibration of form were all details that made his work so powerful. In each masterpiece one can undoubtedly see how VAN GOGH fused form and content in a powerful, dramatic, rhythmic, imaginative, emotional expression of his inner struggles. He was always completely absorbed in a project, (as we mentioned, forgetting to eat at times) in an effort to express and explain what his mind contained.
Madness?...Maybe....But then again, maybe he was just the ICONIC artist. Maybe he saw life in it's rawest form...CRAZY, DARK, and BRUTAL. And maybe in his quest to "give happiness by creating beauty," he selflessly absorbed the world around him and was unable to express it quickly enough to prevent his own insanity. Maybe his comprehension of the spiritual essence of man and nature is what plagued his mind.
The world will do that to you. It is a crazy place. Some may be able to forge ahead and ignore what is constantly looming around us. Some can't control the in-take or the out-pouring. Others, while making their own way, may be in tune to the ebb and flow of life, but are balancing the give and take enough to keep their footing, if for only just a moment more.
Madness waiting in the wings all around us...but I take some comfort in the words of Aristotle: "NO GREAT GENIUS EVER EXISTED WITHOUT SOME TOUCH OF MADNESS."
Soooooooooooooooo...how mad are you???
Personally, I think this tragic ending follows suit with the life that VAN GOGH led. Ironically, it only seems fitting that a man who's work was greatly inspired by his dark life and health issues would only receive the commendation deserved in the darkness of death.
While being labeled as a post-impressionist artists, his efforts and talents in changing the way that art was seen during his lifetime have made his work and his name iconic. His talents were not limited to one specific medium, therefore, it is easy to understand why he is touted as one of the most famous artists of all time.
While his abilities as an artist are not to be questioned, I personally believe that VINCENT VAN GOGH'S success as an artist may be a result of his ability to tap into and channel the emotional instability that plagued the shadows of his life. VINCENT VAN GOGH, while many believe crazed, may in fact been one of the most honest artists when it came to accepting the "dark things" that are bound to plague us all at one time or another.
Raised in a staunchly religious and cultured atmosphere, his personal character development was stunted from an early age. VAN GOGH lacked self-confidence and self-esteem. Compounded into the equation were the social requirements that he was required to conform to. His youth was plagued with darkness as was his young-adulthood. Romances failed, jobs were lost, and yet he was determined to "give happiness by creating beauty."
VAN GOGH'S early works were therefore dark, somber pieces. A good example of this period in his life is the piece called "Potato Eaters," painted in 1885:
Shortly after painting this piece, VAN GOGH went to Paris where he met and befriended a group of artist we loving know as the IMPRESSIONISTS. Because of their influence his works began to "lighten" a bit as the IMPRESSIONISTS were all about capturing light in it's different forms.
During this time, things got interesting for VINCENT VAN GOGH. During a three year time span, artistic works poured from this man as though blood spilling from a wound. He worked constantly.
The IMPRESSIONISTS, as we have discussed, were "thinkers" as well as artists, and were known for their all-night discussions about change and art. VAN GOGH participated as best he could in this stimulating environment. But in order to stay up all night and paint all day, as his passion demanded, his health began to quickly deteriorate. Additionally, it was well known that VAN GOGH didn't take the best precautions with his health. He was known to be a constant smoker, and frequent drinker. He also drank excessive amounts of coffee, ate poorly in general, and fasted...or at least forgot to eat while being impassioned with his art.
A detail that I find interesting is that VINCENT VAN GOGH worked at his art passionately, as if it was an outpouring or color from his very soul. Oddly enough, it was rumored that the very paint he used was an irresistible snack that he partook in. I often wonder if it wasn't just the color of the paint that appealed to this man who was locked in a dark world in his own mind. He could take in the color and re-digest it out into a masterpiece of his own interpretation.
After mentioning this last tid-bit about VAN GOGH eating paint, I would be remiss to neglect the mention of his seizures. As a matter of fact, during one of these attacks, while in
These two stories are not the only oddities that detail this artist's life. One can't help but mention the health issues that plagued the life of VINCENT VAN GOGH. Epilepsy was one of the hypothesized afflictions, but other ailments may have included bi-polar disorder, lead poisoning, (most likely from the paint), Meniere's disease, syphilis, and mental illness. As a matter of fact, a laundry list of symptoms plagued this man. VAN GOGH himself detailed such symptoms as poor digestion, bad stomach, hallucinations, nightmares, stupor, absent mindedness, impotence, insomnia, and anxiety, while at an asylum for a year in 1889-1890.
Sadly, it was shortly after leaving the watchful eye and treatment at the asylum that VINCENT VAN GOGH took his own life in the spring of 1890. He shot himself, "for the good of all."
In looking at the life of VINCENT VAN GOGH, many questions arise. It could be assumed that during his lifetime his passion and talent may have been misunderstood. Who's to say that his passion and talent weren't the very things that plagued his mind and body. Whatever the case, while a VAN GOGH original is now greatly valued, he sold but one....yes...that's right...ONE painting before he died in 1890.
VAN GOGH'S finest works were produced in less than three years. He was constantly working in an impassioned state. He had to paint. It could be said that he painted feverously. His technique, brushstroke, intense color choices, surface tension, and evident movement and vibration of form were all details that made his work so powerful. In each masterpiece one can undoubtedly see how VAN GOGH fused form and content in a powerful, dramatic, rhythmic, imaginative, emotional expression of his inner struggles. He was always completely absorbed in a project, (as we mentioned, forgetting to eat at times) in an effort to express and explain what his mind contained.
Madness?...Maybe....But then again, maybe he was just the ICONIC artist. Maybe he saw life in it's rawest form...CRAZY, DARK, and BRUTAL. And maybe in his quest to "give happiness by creating beauty," he selflessly absorbed the world around him and was unable to express it quickly enough to prevent his own insanity. Maybe his comprehension of the spiritual essence of man and nature is what plagued his mind.
The world will do that to you. It is a crazy place. Some may be able to forge ahead and ignore what is constantly looming around us. Some can't control the in-take or the out-pouring. Others, while making their own way, may be in tune to the ebb and flow of life, but are balancing the give and take enough to keep their footing, if for only just a moment more.
Madness waiting in the wings all around us...but I take some comfort in the words of Aristotle: "NO GREAT GENIUS EVER EXISTED WITHOUT SOME TOUCH OF MADNESS."
Soooooooooooooooo...how mad are you???
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