I had the fortune of visiting Amsterdam last year and was really excited to see the Van Gogh Museum -- until we arrived, and it was already completely sold out for the day. The one thing we didn't plan down the absolute last detail. So disappointing! I hope one day I can visit again so I can finally see this museum!!
Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
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Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
First time I’m hearing this theory. Could you elaborate?
I'll try to do it justice in a comment but the book is here: "Van Gogh's Ear: Paul Gauguin and the Pact of Silence," by Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans A lot of circumstantial evidence but it's pretty telling. Paul Gauguin was an expert swordsman who carried a particular sword with him at all times. He and Vincent would have terrible fights when they lived together in Arles. We know that Paul was scheduled to move a…
Thank you. This is incredibly fascinating, and it makes the whole episode so much sadder.
Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
#23I love the Van Gogh museum - it's the only museum where one can see an artist's work all in one place, so you see their progression.
Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
#24Earlier 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…
The Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam tells you everything you need to know about the person and his craft. It’s carries his name because it’s a whole museum building filled with his work. Literally 1000 drawings and paintings. And it’s definitely a must see in person and no matter how many times I’ve been, every visit to Amsterdam is accompanied by a visit to the Van Gogh museum. True workaholic life’s work.
Word of advice for those wanting to go to this museum: do the audio tour.
You’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t.
Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
#25I’ll join the others in chorus recommending an in-person attendance to the Van Gogh museum.
I attended after enjoying another classic Amsterdam experience, munching through a potent hash brownie. Despite giving myself the recommended enjoyment and recovery time, the effects really kicked in just as we entered the Van Gogh Museum.
It was brilliant!
My beautiful wife abandoned me, because my absorption in some of the works made her fear we’d be kicked out.
And pertinent to this thread, I maintain from that experience that Wheatfield with Crows (https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0149V1962) is also an Impressionist self-portrait of sorts. Harder in digital form to spot the cloudy eyes, crow-black eyebrows, and wheaty-beard - but if you get to Amsterdam, or Paris where it’s about to go on tour, get yourself as close as possible and see if you see what I see!
Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
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).
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Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
#27I’ll join the others in chorus recommending an in-person attendance to the Van Gogh museum. I attended after enjoying another classic Amsterdam experience, munching through a potent hash brownie. Despite giving myself the recommended enjoyment and recovery time, the effects really kicked in just as we entered the Van Gogh Museum. It was brilliant! My beautiful wife abandoned me, because my absorption in some of the w…
Yep, seeing these took me right back there. Absolutely the best museum I’ve ever been to, hands down.
I’m not good at “viewing art”, and often I struggle to understand why pieces are important. This museum is the first one that really filled in all the blanks for me. I was literally a changed person when I walked out of there.
Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
#28> On 23 December 1888, Vincent cut off his left ear in a state of total confusion. The evidence we have now strongly points to that Gauguin cut it off during an argument.
As I read about all this, I kept thinking, “what makes us so sure he did it to himself?”
Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
#29I 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…
Last month, my wife and I visited the Musée d'Orsay (as visiting American tourists). As it happens, we were in line when the museum opened and I had the bright idea to go straight to the top floor...partly because I was interested to see the van Gogh room, and partly because the large body of people entering the museum were still milling around on the first couple of floors.
And so it was that, as we wandered the relatively empty top floor, I walked through the entryway to the van Gogh exhibit room, looked left...and I just stopped, absolutely stunned as I looked upon Starry Night Over the Rhône. It completely took my breath away. I've never had that reaction (or much of any reaction) to a work of art before. My wife ended up wandering a different direction, and I had the pleasure of taking her back into the van Gogh room and watching her have the same reaction.
So, yeah...definitely nothing like looking at it on a screen or in a book.
Re: Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
#30Great! I've just watch Loving Vincent and this show up.