To begin, I went to the Van Gogh Museum and am so thankful I decided to stand in line for an hour, in the rain—by the way, one lesson I learned is to buy museum & exhibit tickets ahead, online.. skip the lines! This museum is the largest collection of his work, with 201 paintings, 437 drawings, and 31 prints. They sectioned off the museum into periods of his life, designated by dates/locations. Along with total preservation of 800 letters, most of which were written to his brother Theo.
The first period is Beinnend kunstenaar 1880-1885: Netherlands.
Van Gogh was inspired by the authenticity of the peasants, farmers, and landscape. He used darker tones and captured the hard labor of the peasants; primarily his paintings were a reflection of his exposure to Dutch painting & the French realists. Here he completes his first masterpiece:
The Potato Eaters
Parijs 1886-1888
Vincent moved to Paris to expand his artistic horizons; he moved in with his brother Theo. While in Paris, he studied the works of Claude Monet and the impressionists; observing new techniques and use of lighter colors. He then began to study with the modernists Paul Gauguin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Emile Bernard, Camille Pissarro, and John Russell. His object of focus changed to parks, cafés, French landscapes, etc. He summed up his new approach, "What is required in art nowadays," he writes, "is something very much alive, very strong in color, very much intensified."
Starry Night
“Looking at the stars always makes me dream. Why, I ask myself, shouldn't the shining dots of the sky be as accessible as the black dots on the map of France? Just as we take the train to get to Tarascon or Rouen, we take death to reach a star” –V.G.
Arles 1888-1889
Van Gogh moved to Provence, in the South of France. Here he was inspired by the strong light and began drawing still life’s—often flowers, which represented the strong sunlight. Vincent wrote to Theo, “I am getting an eye for this type of country.”
(By the way, it was incredibly moving to see the original painting of the Sunflowers. The paint was soooo thick.)
Saint-Remy 1889-1890
Vincent voluntarily committed himself the psychiatric asylum of Saint-Remy, and was diagnosed with ‘acute mania’. He continued to paint in the garden of his asylum, made copies of well-known works, and painted within his room—while removing the steel bars across the windows.
“I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.”
"It is only too true that a lot of artists are mentally ill- it's a life which, to put it mildly, makes one an outsider. I'm all right when I completely immerse myself in work, but I'll always remain half crazy."
--V.G.
The Garden of the Asylum
From a personal point of view, you could almost feel his depression from his paintings from this era. His color palette became quite dark, dense, a little disturbing.
Auvers-sur-Oise 1890
Vincent, after stabilizing, moved back to France close to his brother Theo. He had a brief period of peace and produced a piece each day for two months. When Theo informed his brother he was expecting a child, Van Gogh sent him a painting for the occasion (and my all time favorite.)
The Almond Blossom
The almond blossom blooms in the spring and is a symbol of new life. His nephew was named Vincent. Seeing this original masterpiece, sent goose bumps over my entire body.
27.July.1890 to 29.July.1890:
Having slumped back into a severe depression, Van Gogh went out to a wheat field and shot himself in the chest. He stumbled back to his room, and was found two days later by his brother Theo.
Here are some exerts from his last letters to Theo… you can feel his anguish:
“I have painted three more large canvases. They are vast stretches of corn under troubled skies, and I did not have to go out of my way very much in order to try to express sadness and extreme loneliness.”
“I hardly dare count on always being in good health. And if my disease returns, you would forgive me. I declare I know nothing, absolutely nothing as to what turn this may take.”
“I am to old now to retrace my steps or to desire anything different. That desire has left me, though the mental suffering remains.”
The Royal Place, Dam Square:
While in Amsterdam I visited Dam Square, which originally served as the city hall from 1655 and was converted into the Royal Palace in 1808 by the command of Lodewijk Napolean (brother of the emperor.) Dam Square is in the center of the city and absolutely incredible. The new palace was built to reflect the Dutch Golden Age of prosperity. I snuck some photos when the guards were not looking J I will post these in the next day or so, when I get my cell-phone usb port.
The Red Light District:
The red light district is situated in the oldest part of the city. The area is full of sex shops, coffeeshops (green friendly,) alternative museums (inc. the museum of sex and the cannabis & hash museum,) live sex shows, and the famous window girls. This place is like nothing I’ve ever seen before… here freedom is cherished and judgment is scrutinized. I had to keep in mind that I am a guest in a different country, with a different way of life—especially when I saw this season’s sex shop theme: gas masks & dog leashes.
Amsterdam was the trip of a lifetime, fun, moving, and a confidence booster—that I truly am navigating this world by myself, one adventure at a time. After my trip to Holland, it’s official: NAIVETTE NO MORE!
Sending my love from Denmark!
