Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

vangoghmuseum.nl

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 49 posts

Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

#11

Post by dekhn »

smokel wrote: post #2

I used to "not get" why Van Gogh is considered to be so special. After reading his biography and his letters, I am now in the know. Van Gogh is an interesting case. He was very familiar with the art world, even before he started drawing and painting. He worked as an art dealer and traveled a lot when he was young. Where it gets interesting is when he sets out to become an artist himself. Over the course of only ten y…

To me it wasn't until I saw his painting in person at the Van Gogh museum. I had never seen painting with just so much physical, 3D realism to them (the paint projects off the canvas some 5-10mm in places). I've never seen anything quite like it from that era.

Some others that I've gained appreciation for over time: Rembrandt (seeing the Night Watch in person, alone, was amazing), Vermeer (he was barely known until fairly recently), Suerat (didn't quite appreciate pontillism until I read more about color theory).

Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

#12

Post by ehsankia »

pcurve wrote: post #5
elteto wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First time I’m hearing this theory. Could you elaborate?

The video here explains it well. https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/art-and-stories/vincent-van-... Very sad.

Hmm, there's nothing in that video about this new theory? It still claims that he cut it himself, and uses Paul more as a justification for why he would've been under stress/confusion.

Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

#14

Post by ramesh31 »

smokel wrote: post #2

I used to "not get" why Van Gogh is considered to be so special. After reading his biography and his letters, I am now in the know. Van Gogh is an interesting case. He was very familiar with the art world, even before he started drawing and painting. He worked as an art dealer and traveled a lot when he was young. Where it gets interesting is when he sets out to become an artist himself. Over the course of only ten y…

>Over the course of only ten years he produced a staggering 900 paintings. (I typically spend a few months on only one drawing. And most of those don't even have color.)

Prolificness is the underappreciated aspect of genius. Most talented artists can produce a few great works in their lifetime, with total dedication to the craft and endless toil. Geniuses are the ones who pump those out effortlessly, and once they get bored with that, the masterpieces start to come.

Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

#15

Post by throw7 »

bsder wrote: post #8
smokel wrote: post #2

I used to "not get" why Van Gogh is considered to be so special. After reading his biography and his letters, I am now in the know. Van Gogh is an interesting case. He was very familiar with the art world, even before he started drawing and painting. He worked as an art dealer and traveled a lot when he was young. Where it gets interesting is when he sets out to become an artist himself. Over the course of only ten y…

One thing that most people don't realize is that the "in person" experience of these paintings is dramatically different to seeing a picture in a book or on a screen. This got driven home when we visited the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. All the pictures are quite good. But if you put a bunch of different artists works together in a room, even as a rank amateur some of the paintings just immediately jump out at you. It's q…

I think this is true of most things "in person", what's surprising is what you point out: exactly what ones will jump out at you. I was totally unprepared when I turned the corner in St Peter's and be confronted with the Pietà right in front of me. No joke, I was literally in tears.

Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

#16

Post by ForRealsies »

smokel wrote: post #2

I used to "not get" why Van Gogh is considered to be so special. After reading his biography and his letters, I am now in the know. Van Gogh is an interesting case. He was very familiar with the art world, even before he started drawing and painting. He worked as an art dealer and traveled a lot when he was young. Where it gets interesting is when he sets out to become an artist himself. Over the course of only ten y…

[dead]

Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

#17

Post by hunning »

smokel wrote: post #2

I used to "not get" why Van Gogh is considered to be so special. After reading his biography and his letters, I am now in the know. Van Gogh is an interesting case. He was very familiar with the art world, even before he started drawing and painting. He worked as an art dealer and traveled a lot when he was young. Where it gets interesting is when he sets out to become an artist himself. Over the course of only ten y…

> I used to "not get" why Van Gogh is considered to be so special. After reading his biography and his letters, I am now in the know.

Funny thing is this was the reality of his lived experience as well. He sold three (though there is some debate it was four) paintings in his life. The majority of them to his brother, and the rest by his brother.

He died a relative unknown leaving all of his paintings to his brother.

When his brother's wife read their correspondence she recognized what you did, and decided to publish them.

Upon publishing the letters Vincent's work became respected and in demand.

Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

#18

Post by teaearlgraycold »

bsder wrote: post #8
smokel wrote: post #2

I used to "not get" why Van Gogh is considered to be so special. After reading his biography and his letters, I am now in the know. Van Gogh is an interesting case. He was very familiar with the art world, even before he started drawing and painting. He worked as an art dealer and traveled a lot when he was young. Where it gets interesting is when he sets out to become an artist himself. Over the course of only ten y…

One thing that most people don't realize is that the "in person" experience of these paintings is dramatically different to seeing a picture in a book or on a screen. This got driven home when we visited the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. All the pictures are quite good. But if you put a bunch of different artists works together in a room, even as a rank amateur some of the paintings just immediately jump out at you. It's q…

I don’t seek out particular exhibits when visiting museums. I more so feel in the mood for it and just go for whatever’s on display. Any time an art museum I visit has a Van Gogh it catches me off guard. There’s a room full of different artists but his will jump out every time. They’re stunning.

Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

#19

Post by dekhn »

throw7 wrote: post #15
bsder wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing that most people don't realize is that the "in person" experience of these paintings is dramatically different to seeing a picture in a book or on a screen. This got driven home when we visited the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. All the pictures are quite good. But if you put a bunch of different artists works together in a room, even as a rank amateur some of the paintings just immediately jump out at you. It's q…

I think this is true of most things "in person", what's surprising is what you point out: exactly what ones will jump out at you. I was totally unprepared when I turned the corner in St Peter's and be confronted with the Pietà right in front of me. No joke, I was literally in tears.

Or Laocoon And His Sons- just sort of sitting in a corner of a courtyard. A 2,000 statue carved by human hands... almost as beautiful as the day it was made (it received some damage).

Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits

#20

Post by noduerme »

dekhn wrote: post #11
smokel wrote: post #2

I used to "not get" why Van Gogh is considered to be so special. After reading his biography and his letters, I am now in the know. Van Gogh is an interesting case. He was very familiar with the art world, even before he started drawing and painting. He worked as an art dealer and traveled a lot when he was young. Where it gets interesting is when he sets out to become an artist himself. Over the course of only ten y…

To me it wasn't until I saw his painting in person at the Van Gogh museum. I had never seen painting with just so much physical, 3D realism to them (the paint projects off the canvas some 5-10mm in places). I've never seen anything quite like it from that era. Some others that I've gained appreciation for over time: Rembrandt (seeing the Night Watch in person, alone, was amazing), Vermeer (he was barely known until f…

Seeing them in person makes an enormous difference. And the Van Gogh museum is spectacular. I already liked his work, but I felt like I understood it much more, including how tactile his process was.

A particular piece that really blew my mind to see in person was Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights" at the Prado in Madrid. It left a lifelong impression (I've returned to see it several times). What I realized was, panning all over a high res digital version, you never get the sense of the whole or the theatrical scale of the thing. It's like watching a movie on your phone versus at an IMAX.

Post reply on HN