On the Van Gogh route

“Eu sonho a minha pintura, então eu pinto o meu sonho” Van Gogh

“I dream of painting and then I paint my dream” Van Gogh

Em qualquer museu de arte moderna conceituado pelo mundo fora, vais possivelmente encontrar uma obra de Van Gogh, artista pós-impressionista que apenas foi reconhecido e valorizado após a sua morte. A sua vida não foi fácil, terminando de forma trágica. A sua forma de expressão através da arte foi e continua a ser inspiradora para muitos. O filme biográfico "Loving Vincent" (2017), animação inteiramente pintada à mão através de 65.000 pinturas a óleo segundo a técnica de Van Gogh, concebidos por uma equipa de 115 artistas, retrata isso mesmo. A vida e morte do artista, considerado um génio por uns e louco por outros. Não sei se existe uma linha ténue entre ambos. Penso que um conceito ou outro estará fora da dita curva de normalidade, contudo não terão obrigatoriamente de ser considerados pólos opostos! O que seria de um artista sem emoções?

In any world-renowned museum of modern art, you will probably find a work by Van Gogh, a post-impressionist artist who was only recognized and valued after his death. His life wasn’t easy at all, ending tragically. His form of expression through art was and continues to be inspiring to many people. The biographical film "Loving Vincent" (2017), an entirely hand-painted animation of 65,000 Van Gogh-inspired oil paintings, designed by a team of 115 artists, portrays this. The life and death of the artist, considered a genius by some and crazy by others. I don’t know if there is a line between them. I think that one concept or another will be outside of the curve of normality, however, they will not necessarily have to be considered opposite poles! What would an artist be without emotions?

Van Gogh paintings exhibit at MET in New York (photo by Littlelle)

Van Gogh Alive in Lisbon (photo by Littlelle)

Van Gogh Alive in Lisbon (photo by Littlelle)

Van Gogh nasceu na Holanda, no seio de uma família da classe média alta, tendo tido um educação rígida. Durante a infância aparentava ser uma criança triste. Em adulto tentou vários empregos na área da teologia, professor e negociador de obras de arte, entre outras, contudo nenhum obteve sucesso. Apesar de não ter bases técnicas e estando consciente dessa sua “limitação” começou a pintar apenas aos 27 anos, tendo o apoio do seu irmão mais novo Theo, que financiava o seu trabalho. Viveu em Londres, Bruxelas, Antuérpia, Haia e Paris, morada obrigatória para qualquer artista do século XIX. Em Paris conviveu com vários pintores impressionistas, inspirando-se na luz e cor dessa corrente. Gostava também de arte japonesa, chegando a estudar filosofia oriental para aprimorar a sua arte. Tinha o sonho de viajar para o Japão, mas Toulouse-Lautrec dissuadiu-o, ao equiparar a luz de Arles com a do Japão, o que fez com que Van Gogh se mudasse para o sul de França. Foi aí que sucedeu o fatídico episódio de cortar a sua própria orelha e entregar a mesma a uma prostituta após uma discussão com Gauguin. Em consequência deste ato, Vincent foi internado, tendo passado por vários períodos de internamento em Arles e Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Em Auvers-sur-Oise continuou o tratamento com o Dr. Gachet, médico com gosto pela arte descrito por Van Gogh como "mais doente do que eu, ou vamos dizer tanto quanto".

Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands, in a middle-class family and had a strict education. During childhood he appeared to be a sad child. As an adult he tried many jobs as a theologist, teacher and art negotiator, among others, but none succeeded. Although he had no technical basis and even being aware of his "limitation" he began to paint only at the age of 27, having the support of his younger brother Theo, who financed his work. He lived in London, Brussels, Antwerp, The Hague and Paris, an obligatory address for any artist of the 19th century. In Paris he lived with several Impressionist painters, earning inspiration in the light and color of this movement. He also liked Japanese art, even studying oriental philosophy to improve his art. He had the dream of traveling to Japan, but Toulouse-Lautrec dissuaded him by comparin the light of Arles with the one of Japan, which made Van Gogh move to the south of France. It was there that happened the fateful episode of cutting off his own ear and handing it to a prostitute after an argument with Gauguin. As a result, Vincent was hospitalized, having undergone by several periods of internment in Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. In Auvers-sur-Oise continued treatment with Dr. Gachet, a doctor with a taste for art described by Van Gogh as "sicker than I am, I think, or shall we say just as much".

Almond blossom (1890, Saint Rémy-de-Provence) at the Van Gogh Museum (photo by Littlelle)

Van Gogh and Theo graves in Auvers-sur-Oise (photo by João Pedro Marques, editeb by Littlelle)

A sua passagem pelos Países Baixos, Bélgica e França contribuiu para o desenvolvimento do seu estilo único, caracterizado por uma palete de tons fortes e vibrantes que fazem um uso expressivo e emotivo do brilho e da cor em traços curvilíneos, ficando conhecido pela pinturas de flores, paisagens rurais, naturezas mortas, retratos e os seus autorretratos. Para Van Gogh a pintura e a escrita eram uma terapia que o ajudavam a tentar encontrar o equilíbrio emocional.

His passage through the Netherlands, Belgium and France contributed to the development of its unique style, characterized by a palette of strong and vibrant tones that make expressive and emotive use of brightness and color in curvilinear traits, becoming known for the paintings of flowers, rural landscapes, still lifes, portraits and his self-portraits. For Van Gogh, painting and writing were a therapy that helped him try to find emotional balance.

Roses (1890, Saint Rémy-de-Provence) at MET in New York (photo by Littlelle)
"in the last few days at St-Rémy I worked in a frenzy. Big bouquets of flowers, violet irises, big bouquets of roses"

 Sunflowers (1889, Arles) at the Van Gogh Museum (photo by Littlelle)
'I am hard at it, painting with the enthusiasm of a Marseillais eating bouillabaisse, which won't surprise you when you know that what I'm at is the painting of some sunflowers. If I carry out this idea there will be a dozen panels. So the whole thing will be a symphony in blue and yellow. I am working at it every morning from sunrise on, for the flowers fade so quickly. I am now on the fourth picture of sunflowers. This fourth one is a bunch of 14 flowers ... it gives a singular effect.'

 Wheatfield with a Reaper (1889, Saint Rémy-de-Provence) at the Van Gogh Museum (photo by Littlelle)

Street in Auvers-sur-Oise at Unfinished thoughts left visible exhibition at MET Breuer in New York (photo by Littlelle)

Two Crabs (Arles, 1889) at the National Galley of London (photo by Littlelle) 'I am going to set to work again tomorrow. I shall start by doing one or two still lifes to get used to painting again'.

Portrait of Joseph Roulin (Arles, 1889) at MOMA in New York (photo by Littlelle)
"I want to paint men and women with that something of the eternal which the halo used to symbolize, and which we try to convey by the actual radiance and vibration of our coloring."

Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (1887, Paris) at MET in New York (photo by Littlelle)
"I purposely bought a good enough mirror to work from myself, for want of a model."

Self-Portrait as a Painter (1888, Paris) at the Van Gogh Museum (photo by Littlelle)

 Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat (1887, Paris) at the Van Gogh Museum (photo by Littlelle)

A história de Van Gogh ganha vida através das suas cerca de 900 pinturas e outras 900 cartas dirigidas ao seu irmão Theo. Hoje a sua obra é global, e reside em Amesterdão, onde tem um museu inteiramente a si dedicado, em Londres na National Gallery, em Paris no Museu d' Orsay ou em Nova Iorque no MET e no MOMA. Para grande espanto meu, até em Tokyo me deparei com os seus queridos Girassóis.

Van Gogh's story comes to life through his nearly 900 paintings and 900 letters addressed to his brother Theo. Today his work is global, and he is present in Amsterdam, where he has an entire museum dedicated to him, in London at the National Gallery, in Paris at the Musée d'Orsay, or at New York at MET and MOMA. Much to my astonishment, even in Tokyo I came upon his beloved Sunflowers.

The Bedroom (Arles, 1888) at the Van Gogh Museum (photo by Littlelle)

A Wheatfield, with Cypresses (1889,Saint Rémy-de-Provence) at the National Galley of London (photo by Littlelle)

Chaumes de Cordeville (1890, Auvers-sur-Oise) at Musée d'Orsay in Paris (photo by Littlelle)

Irises (1890, Saint Rémy-de-Provence) at MET in New York (photo by Littlelle)

The Starry Night (1889, Saint Rémy-de-Provence) at MOMA  (photo by Mário Santos)
"This morning I saw the country from my window a long time before sunrise, with nothing but the morning star, which looked very big"

Van Gogh Alive in Lisbon (photo by Littlelle)

Após a experiência sensorial de Van Gogh em Lisboa que conjuga as suas cartas, pinturas e música clássica na representação da sua vida, a sua marca ficou ainda mais viva.

After the sensory experience of Van Gogh in Lisbon that combines his letters, paintings and classical music in the representation of his life, his mark was even more alive.

Van Gogh Alive in Lisbon (photo by Littlelle)

Van Gogh Alive in Lisbon (photo by Littlelle)

Existe uma iniciativa que realiza uma rota para seguir os passos de Van Gogh pela Europa e reviver o que ele viu, cheirou e sentiu. Os locais e instituições que colaboram com a mesma são:

There’s an initiative that makes a route to follow the footsteps of Van Gogh by Europe and relive what he saw, smelled and felt. The sites and institutions that collaborate with it are:

Van Gogh Museum, Kröller-Müller Museum, Van Gogh Brabant, VisitVeluwe, NBTC Holland Marketing, VisitBrabant, Municipality of Ede, Van Gogh Village Nuenen, Vincent van Gogh Information Centre in Etten-Leur, Het Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch, Vincent van GoghHuis in Zundert, Van Gogh Church, Vincentre, Vincent’s Art Room in Tilburg, Institut Van Gogh, Mons2015, Visit Paris Region, Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles, Estrine Museum, Cloître Saint-Paul, Ville de Saint-Rémy, Valetudo Vincent van Gogh, Saint Rémy de Provence Tourist Information, Commune of Colfontaine, Mons Tourism Office, Comité Régional du Tourisme Paris Ile-de-France, Saint-Paul Hospital in Mausole.

Podes encontrar mais informações em http://www.routevangogheurope.eu/

Seria uma excelente viagem 😊

You can find more information on: http://www.routevangogheurope.eu/

It would be an excellent trip 😊

Ready to follow Van Gogh (photo by ICCB team)