Just finished Martin Gayford’s The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles. This is an excellent piece of writing. Though it focuses on the two plus months van Gogh and Gauguin lived together in Arles, France in late 1888, Gayford does a wonderful job putting that period into historical context.
Van Gogh arrived in Arles in the early months of 1888 and invited Gauguin and Emile Bernard to join him to start an artists’ community in the south of France. (Gauguin arrived in the late fall, Bernard never came.) In the interim, van Gogh was awfully prolific, painting Sunflowers, The Bedroom, some of his Sower paintings, and a monk-like Self-Portrait. Once Gauguin arrived, van Gogh was possibly more prolific–a great exhibit called “Studio of the South” (slides here) includes many of van Gogh’s and Gauguin’s most important works from the collaborative time together in Arles.
Unfortunately (or fortunately), art is complex. On a basic level, a work of art is immediately pleasing or displeasing to the viewer. But most artists infuse their paintings (consciously or subconsciously) with meaning. The Yellow House reminded me of van Gogh’s love of French literature especially Emile Zola. It is amazing how many references and ques van Gogh included in his works. I don’t recall having read any of Zola’s work, but I guess I’m going to.
I’m no art snob, so it is difficult to look past the basic presentation of a piece and investigate/understand an artist’s purpose and motives. Every time I do so, I appreciate the piece more. Just wish I had more time.
