“There is
something infinite in painting—I cannot explain it to you so well […]. Tomorrow
I hope to go and work in the open air again.” Vincent Van Gogh (The Hague,
August 26, 1882. To Theo.)
When you think you have read everything about
Vincent Van Gogh, a book release proves you wrong. “In Search of Van Gogh”
invites you to trace the artist's steps, and to visit the mental and physical
spaces that he inhabited. Art historian Gloria Fossi put together Van Gogh’s musings
and reflections on life experiences, relationships, art and books, along with
relevant photographs, adding new revelations about the artist.
Historians used to believe that the remarkable vortex in his painting “The Starry Night” was the product of his hallucinations. However, a number of American astrophysicists now agree that it may be “a reference or a memory of one of the most fascinating nebulae ever discovered: the Whirlpool Galaxy in the Canes Venatici constellation”. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1773. Vincent Van Gogh was an avid reader and had a special interest in the sky.
Now we
know that the stars in his paintings were not placed randomly. Researchers
agree that Vincent carefully studied the sky, and his artworks reflected them
with a certain precision, helping scientists to deduce, for example, that “The
Starry Night over the Rhone” was painted in Arles at about 10:30 p.m. between
September 20 and 30, 1888.
Vincent
Van Gogh did not mind the rain or the wind as he worked in the study of nature.
He portrayed rural life in the memorable
images of peasants working, sharing a meal or simply chilling out. Guided by his intuitive wisdom, Vincent Van
Gogh persevered through every obstacle, bolstering the fire of his indomitable
creativity; his ardent curiosity; and his love for nature and people.
There are various amazing facts about Van
Gogh in “In Search of Van Gogh”. Did you
know that Vincent descended 700 meters underground to explore the suffering,
discomfort and ordeals that miners faced every day? Gas explosions were
frequent in those days, and Vincent
helped to treat the wounded in one of the Borinage mines.
“In Search of Van Gogh” offers the opportunity
to get to know Vincent Van Gogh as a person and an artist, washing away
prejudices and myths that cloud the understanding of his artworks.
Van Gogh’s art continues to touch the hearts of millions of people across the world because his oeuvre transcends time and space. The freshness of his works infuses vitality in the viewers. His drawings and paintings showcase more than what any words can convey. His brushstrokes spark passion for life; the masterpieces he created are fearless depictions of his soul and those of his models.
The
essence of Vincent Van Gogh’s empathic nature is captured with exquisite grace
by Gloria Fossi’s book, and the photographs included complete a vibrant journey
into his life and art.
You can
continue learning about Vincent Van Gogh by checking the full collection of
letters to his family and friends. Reading those letters is a trip of poetry
and inspiration. The literary value of his writing is finally gaining momentum and getting the recognition it deserves.
Vincent Van Gogh’s full collection of
letters, including critical annotations and illustrations, is the result of
fifteen years of research by the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in collaboration
with the Huygens Institute for the History of the Netherlands in The Hague. The
collection is online here:
