For anyone that hasn’t been lucky enough to see any of his work, a large body of it graced the Royal Academy of Arts in London back in early 2010 with a new exhibition, but it also set out to provide more insight into the man behind the incredible post-impressionist art. The Real Van Gogh: The Artist And His Letters featured 35 of his letters along with works including Portrait as an Artist (1888) and The Yellow House (1888 – pictured above) courtesy of the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
It ran throughout late winter and early spring, opening on the 23rd January 2010 before going on to close on the 18th April 2010. Featuring the letters as well as a selection of his oil paintings made it one of the best opportunities to get underneath the canvas of one of the world’s most influential artists.
It’s easy to understand why Vincent Van Gogh has become such an art icon. Apart from creating some of the finest paintings in the history of man, he is also one of the most interesting characters to grace the world with a supreme talent. Sadly maligned with depression and mental illness, he was often forced to live in extreme poverty to allow him to be able to afford the expensive materials for his paintings. This becomes even more impressive when you consider the fact that he was little appreciated during his life, making Van Gogh a true artist’s artist.
He also wrote often, in particular to family members like his brother Theo and his sister Wilhelmina, as well as to artists like Emile Bernard and Paul Gauguin. Going into detail about his inspirations and thoughts, the letters give us an insight into his life that can be easily overshadowed by his “Fou Roux” reputation.
Everything about his life is interesting, often sad, but never dull. Luckily for us the story of it all will live forever in his paintings and now in his letters. Ranging from his time in England as a supply teacher in Ramsgate and his early drawings through to the painting of his masterpieces, Starry Night, Wheatfield With Crows and his self portraits.
If you missed the exhibition, your best bet to see as much of his work as possible, and to find out more about the man and artist, is to head on over to the Amsterdam to the Vincent Van Gogh Museum. However, to see Starry Night you’ll need to head to New York to the Museum of Modern Art.
