I didn't mean to imply that VG was just aping the Parisian Impressionists. His brother Theo told him, if I recall correctly, that dark paintings were hard to sell and that the brighter Impressionist paintings were getting attention. (Any dealer in any era might say the same thing). I agree that VG was too into his "internal necessity" to simply be a wannabe. But he was seeking new ways to unfold his expressive content. I suppose it's a matter of priorities. Yes, for VG we nay safely say that he was always, first, an artist. Being hip to the scene was second and somewhat influential...and quickly surpassed by his monumentally original later work. Again, all this in an astonishingly brief time...5 years of painting, 10 years altogether.
WC --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I like William's remarks about Monet. As a > publisher, I was often startled to > find the author of a warm, understanding, > perceptive, lovable novel was > personal beast. Insiders knew that funny, cuddly > James Thurber was so gratuitously > vicious that assistants ran and hid if they knew he > was coming into the > office. Those exeriences prompted me to write these > lines to be spoken by an editor > in a forthcoming play: > > ". . .You want a speech about randy writers I have > known? Writers can be > callous sex-bandits, bigots, liars, social phonies > -- and still be great writers. > But all the greats -- the shits and the good guys -- > would agree: keep your > brain in its place; there are times when you have to > grab a wave and ride it > before you've got it all figured out." > > I'm not sure William is right about the following, > however -- though he may > be: > > > "Van Gogh's switch from the dark toned, rough work > to > > the more impressionist-like work shows his desire > to > > be up to date with the Parisian avant garde and > thus > > reveals a desire for acceptance by a sophisticated > and > > empathic audience." > > > I imagine the possibility Van Gogh was merely > developing as a painter, > evolving into the style that was working its way out > of his inner being, just as > many writers and composers have done. This is not to > say they were not influenced > by the work of other avant creators they saw, but it > is to claim the "mature" > style may not have been adopted simply to win favor > with the powers that were > . But maybe William can cite something from the > letters where Vincent > confesses exactly that strategy. > > > > > > ************** > Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch > "Cooking with > Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. > > (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?& > NCID=aolfod00030000000002)
