Creative Genius - Vincent van Gogh

#artists #painter #passionate #sensitive #art

“Just slap anything on when you see a blank canvas staring you in the face like some imbecile. You don’t know how paralyzing that is, that stare of a blank canvas, which says to the painter ‘You can’t do a thing!’. The canvas has an idiotic stare and mesmerises some painters so much that they turn into idiots themselves. Many painters are afraid in front of the blank canvas but the blank canvas is afraid of the real, passionate painter who dares and who has broken the spell of ‘You can’t!’ once and for all.”

Those words were written by Vincent van Gogh in the letter to his brother Theo. Six years later Vincent died, at the age of 37. Throughout his life he has created over 900 paintings, while being hurdled by poverty and mental illnesses. Considered an outcast and a madman by people of his times, now is finally given credits for what he was: one of the greatest and most unique painters of all.

Life

“I have nature and art and poetry, and if it’s not enough, what is enough?”

Van Gogh’s life wasn’t one to call ‘bed of roses’. He was born in 1853 as one of six children of a protestant priest in a Dutch cottage, Groot. As a teenager he was working in his uncle’s art salon Goupil & Cie. After 7 years he resigned and began pursuing his spiritual life as he felt a vocation to become a priest. Soon he dropped out of Evangelist’s school and went off on his rambles. It was when he joined his brother in Paris, Vincent started attending to school of drawing and painting. Art became his life, he learned and was inspired by his friends artists, who he met in Paris. “Peinteres du Petit Boulevard” they called themselves.

Obstacles

“I put my heart and soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process”

incent moved to Arles with Gaugin, then to Auvers-sur-Oise near Paris, this time alone. In those years his mental health deteriorated. He suffered multiple panic attacks and recurrences of mental disorders. He became mentally unstable, alcoholism was partly to blame for that. He was frequently put in mental hospital and later on remained under care of a nurse. He never quitted painting, in fact it was the opposite: he painted more and more. It is considered that during his decade-length career he had made over 900, that means roughly one painting every 36 hours. He died on the 29th of June, 1890 due to the infection of a gunshot wound. It is believed that Van Gogh comitted suicide, but some evidence stands against it, such as that there was only one wound in the stomach area (while most suicides aim for their head or put a gun in their mouth) and the weapon was never founded. It is possible that he was shot by accident by one the boys he had befriended, during a play that had gone wrong.

Creative mind

“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.“

Free spirit- Van Gogh kept looking for his way in life. He never hesitated to try new things that he felt prone to. He changed his path frequently and easily, never caring for money or fame. Passionate- Painting quickly became his passion and nothing else ever satisfied him the way it did. He never gave it up, it continued to be his consolation throughout his life.

Sensitive- He was much more of a feeler than a thinker. Emotions guided him and, combined with alcohol, controlled him. They were tearing him apart, at the same time bringing his talent out and, eventually, leading him to the insane asylum.

Open-minded- Vincent kept an eye for the beauty of the surrounding world. He was easily inspired by everyday objects and ordinary scenery that he perceived in a unique way. He never stopped seeking for things that spoke to him and deeply moved his soul.

Curious- Throughout his life Van Gogh was discovering the new, always looking forward. Never resting and never stopping, he followed what resonated with his core. At the same time he sank in the moment to embrace the experience, and rushed to the future to grasp more.

Legacy

“Art is to console those, who are broken by life”

Van Gogh’s work is exceptional. He breathed new life in expressionism and became an inspiration to many artists. The number of paintings he created and unique way of mirroring reality are proofs of his astounding creativity. His masterpieces are absolutely original and remind people that what he did was new and revelatory. By critics he is considered to be a pioneer of modern art. Vincent is a source of creativity to artists, who base their work on his biography, such as award-winning “Loving Vincent” by Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman. People all over the world are to this day in love with Van Gogh’s work, that will probably continue to amaze next generations.

References:

https://opolnocywparyzu.pl/vincent-van-gogh/

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh#Po%C5%9Bmiertna_s%C5%82awa

https://www.empik.com/empikultura/10-faktow-z-zycia-van-gogha-o-ktorych-mogliscie-nie-wiedziec,15208,a

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