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Artist of the Day
Vincent Van Gogh
When people think of a tortured, starved artist, they think of Van Gogh. Everyone knows of his passion for life, that he loved his brother Theo dearly, his mental decline leaving him institutionalized in 1889, that he cut off his ear and sent it in the mail to a prostitute he loved, and most notably, that he shot himself in the chest on a very sunny day in 1890 dyeing of his wounds days later with Theo at his bedside…
In recent years this archaic view of Van Gogh has been closely examined and art historians and researches are finding that Van Gogh may not have been just as raving mad as we have all found him to be. And that he certainly did not end his life in 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France…
Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on the 30th of March in 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands. He was born the oldest child of Theodorus Van Gogh, the minister of the Dutch Reformed Church and mother Anna Cornelia Carbentus. Vincent was named after his grandfather on his fathers side and of a brother stillborn a year before Vincent’s birth. Re-using a name was not uncommon. Vincent came from a long legacy of art dealers and artists. In 1866, Vincent went to Willem II College in Tilburg. There at the school he was taught how to draw by Parisian artist, C. C. Huysmans. Vincent continued drawing throughout the years until in 1880 after working as a priest in Borinage, Belgium in a coal mining town he was relieved of his duty by the priesthood. He then stayed in Cuesmes in 1880 where he decided to become an artist. There in Cuesmes he housed with a coal miner, at this point in his life Theo was supporting his rent and painting supplies. Vincent painting the coal miners at work and did sketches and studies of people and landscape. In 1886, Vincent would travel to Paris to live with his brother where he came across many impressionist painters and where Van Gogh claimed to have “discovered true color."
Leaving Paris, Van Gogh travels to Arles where he has means to create an artists community. Joined by Gauguin on October 23rd. He was the only artist to ever be apart of Van Gogh’s artists community. Gauguin’s sole motive for going to Arles at all was because Theo promised to sell more of Gaugin’s works if he studied with his brother in Arles. In December of 1888, Gaugin and Van Gogh begin having personality conflicts in their small house, Gaugin needs his space and Van Gogh is on the brink of his insanity. After the mutilation of Van Gogh’s ear on the 23rd of December; Gaugin leaves Arles immediately. They never hear from each other again. 1889, Van Gogh submits himself into a mental hospital in Arles. Reaching the end years of his life Van Gogh is painting every day, all day, some would argue the last five years of his short life was his most productive. And in 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, 17 miles from Theo in Paris, and under the urgent care of Dr. Paul Gachet; Van Gogh shoots himself in the chest in a field near Dr. Gachet’s house. Van Gogh dies two days later with Theo at his bedside at the age of 37.
Whether Van Gogh shot himself or if he was shot is still under investigation, It seems unlikely for a man to shoot himself in the chest with intent to end his life. Many art historians are looking towards more logical deductions, the general consensus is that the weapon misfired while in his possession. The truth of Van Gogh’s intent will forever remain a mystery…
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Artist of the Day
Edouard Manet
Born in Paris on the 23rd of January in 1832
Manet was an important painter in leading the realism painters of the 19th century to impressionism.
His early masterwork Olympia created much controversy for the artist, this painting and The Luncheon on the Grass would serve as inspiration for the young painters and creators of impressionism.
Picture above:
Edouard Manet, A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, 1882. Oil on canvas, approx. 3’ 1" X 4’ 3". The Courtauld Gallery, London.
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Artist of the Day
Claude-Oscar Monet
Claude-Oscar Monet was born in Paris, France on the 14th of November in 1840.
He spent his remembered childhood in Le Havre, moving there at the age of five with his parents. Le Havre had no art museums or schools of art. His father was a green grocer, Monet expressed at an early age that he wanted to be an artist, his father turned a cold shoulder to his sons desire of an artists life. With forces working against him Monet had only his aunt to turn to, who painted as a dilettante.
In Normandy 1858, after moving from his parents home in Le Havre Monet encountered his first artistic friend, Eugene Boudin. At this time Monet had found some success in painting caricatures. Boudin convinced Monet to turn to plein-air painting. Boudin’s direct words to Monet was “Everything that is painted directly on the spot has a strength, a power, a sureness of touch that one doesn’t find again in the studio.” “If a picture is not one part which should strike one but indeed the whole.” These words by Boudin to Monet could be viewed as Monet’s entire philosophy and view of his life’s work…
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“A picture lives by companionship, expanding and quickening in the eyes of the sensitive observer. It dies by the same token. It is therefore risky to send it out into the world. How often it must be impaired by the eyes of the unfeeling and the cruelty of the impotent.”- Mark Rothko
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