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A huge group of people stand mesmerized in front of “Starry Night” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. In 1888, Van Gogh painted this piece from his asylum room window, depicting the Provence night sky. He had committed himself after cutting off his left ear with a razor and sending it to a prostitute.

Before his suicide at 37, he deemed himself a failure.

I can’t help wondering what Van Gogh would think if he saw this picture now, painted at such a low time, hanging in one of the world’s most important art museums. You stand and take it in, shoulder to shoulder with people speaking every language, clicking off picture after picture.

“No flashes!” can be heard over and over by museum guards.

I wonder what makes it so beautiful. Is it the psychedelic swirls of midnight blues and brilliant yellows? Is it because Van Gogh took the vastness of the heavens and brought them down to an almost childlike sense of wonder? Is it because so many know the struggle behind his art — the bouts of psychosis, anxiety, and depression?

Van Gogh sold one painting in his lifetime with the help of his brother Theo, an art dealer. After Vincent’s death, Theo died six months later, but Theo’s widow worked to bring Vincent the recognition he deserved. After a showing of his work, his fame grew.

Over a century later, you ask people who their favorite artist is and many say Van Gogh. For such an unhappy person, there’s something light, almost whimsical in his depictions of hay stacks and sunflowers and French fields.

It’s his self-portrait, of which he did several that have a darker tone, where you see the man behind the gay colors and bold strokes.

I watch this exhibit thinking how sad Van Gogh never knew how studied, appreciated, and revered his art would become. He never realized the legacy he would leave the world. One of his paintings, “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” sold in the 1990’s for over $80 million.

And yet I’m not sure fame and fortune would’ve brought Van Gogh happiness. I doubt material wealth was his driving force. His only happiness seemed to be his art.

Like many geniuses, Vincent never felt comfortable in this life, always walking that thin line between sanity and madness. Perhaps it was only in death that Van Gogh found true peace.

I go to raise my camera one last time, trying to find a space in the crowd. A museum guard walks by giving me a stern look. “No flashes,” she says.

I take one last shot.

 

Do you have a favorite artist? Comments are always welcome and if you like, please share.  Thank you!

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Comments(32)

    • Lea

    • 10 years ago

    Hi Laurie, Loved your reflections in this piece. Last year, we featured this painting as the centerpiece of our school benefit – 12 students took sections and painted their own interpretations to stunning effect. So many ripples from the brush of this sad man. And it does make me think – comforts me – to be reminded that we never know what our impact might ultimately be, whether it is given to us to experience those effects or not.

  1. So true, Lea.

  2. What is weird, like super weird is that I coworker and I were just discussing this painting THIS MORNING. Thanks for this.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Michelle, That is a funny coincidence!

  3. One of my favorite paintings, although I do love his sunflowers also. Interesting thoughts!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Mary, I love so many of his paintings. The sunflowers are right up there.

  4. I can’t imagine what he would think… although I wish he would have known. It’s amazing that such a sad man could produce paintings of joy. Starry Night touches something so visceral in all us

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      I also wonder how such a sad, troubled man produced such light, even joyful art. I wish he could’ve seen how popular he ultimately became.

  5. So young, such a tortured soul. Today he would be considered manic disorder I think. Would medication inhibit his artistic genius, hard to say.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Great question about the medication. I don’t know. You’re right about the bi-polar. He also was a very sensitive soul, too tender for this harsh (and it seems getting harsher) world.

  6. I’d like to think he knows how many people appreciate his work. Lucky for us, it has endured.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Roxanne, I agree. Somewhere Vincent is looking down on us and smiling.

  7. This reminds me of a Dr. Who episode in which the Dr. and Amy show Vincent how famous he would become. They thought they would change time and that Vincent wouldn’t kill himself, but they were wrong. Some demons are just too strong.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Jennifer, I’m thinking he was bi-polar and can’t imagine going through that with no medication. Of course, as someone pointed out, medication may have dulled his genius. I’m just grateful to still have those wonderful paintings to gaze at.

  8. He is one of my favorite artists. It is sad that he seemingly never felt the joy his paintings have given others.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Bryce, I find that so sad about him. Except for his art, he lived an unhappy existence. If only he knew the impact he’d have…

  9. Van Gogh give us such a glimpse into art and artists everywhere. Creating is such an effort of sheer will over personal feelings of inadequacy. He is my hero. I hope he knows now what he has given the world.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Diane, I can’t believe how prolific he was. Just when I think I’ve seen all his paintings, another series pops up.

  10. I really enjoy everything you write – you always make me think. This one left me wondering about the demons that people battle and what people will think about us after we’re gone. I’m sharing it in a roundup post to publish on 10-21-17.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Shelley, Thanks so much! For me, Van Gogh was both brilliant and tragic. His paintings still leave me in awe. I’m sure he’d faint if he saw the fame he was later to achieve, considering no one had heard of him in his lifetime.

  11. His Starry Night hangs in the houses of two of my children! He is a huge family favourite. I wonder why so many artists are only appreciated AFTER they have left us. How sad!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 2 years ago

      Diane, Your kids have good taste! I agree, it’s so sad he wasn’t appreciated till after his death.

  12. I’ve seen Van Goghs all over the world and he does capture me. A unique style. Oh those demons that feed creativity…

      • Laurie Stone

      • 2 years ago

      Carol, Yes, I agree, his mind was very original (if tortured at times). That’s was produced his incredible art.

  13. I want to go to the Van Gogh immersive exhibit in St. Louis this fall! I love his work.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 2 years ago

      Mel, That sounds like fun! Must be amazing.

  14. So brilliant. So tragic. It’s like the genius just burns them out.
    He is a family favourite!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 11 months ago

      Diane, Love that line, ‘the genius burns them out.’ So true. They’re hyper-sensitive and that can’t be easy.

  15. Lovely piece! Isn’t it funny – or odd – how art and genius collide?

      • Laurie Stone

      • 11 months ago

      Mona, Yes, and passion. He had to paint and it showed in his beautiful art.

  16. I wonder what he would have thought of the Van Gogh immersive exhibits. I went twice in NYC and loved it!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Lauren, I’d love to go. They look wonderful.

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