What am I in the eyes of most people — a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person — somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then — even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart. That is my ambition, based less on resentment than on love in spite of everything, based more on a feeling of serenity than on passion. Though I am often in the depths of misery, there is still calmness, pure harmony and music inside me. I see paintings or drawings in the poorest cottages, in the dirtiest corners. And my mind is driven towards these things with an irresistible momentum.
What a worthy goal. To be labeled strange, eccentric, but to make it your aim to let people know what you had in your heart. I love that. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for posting the great Van Gogh. One of the great poet/painter combos the world has ever known. He also showed us, proved to us, that one can paint and make art entirely for oneself, with all the added struggles of being human. In doing so, by painting and writing for himself, he painted and wrote for all of us-for humanity- who, for Van Gogh, showed up much too late.
Touching. Vincent Van Gogh was possibly a manic-depressive, or possibly schizophrenic. (A hint of this was his inability to stay away from the young woman he loved/lusted after. And his cutting off of a portion of his ear to show her how much he loved her. And Vincent was, of course, a wonderful, great artist. If he were lifted out of history and dropped in a big American city, maybe he'd be pushing a shopping cart filled with his canvases and paints, looking for whatever catches his eye. His mania would still drive him to paint. But if he was unlucky, the State would put him on some kind of Prozac-like zombie medication that would have taken away his compulsion to paint.
“There is a thin veil between madness and genius.”
A book by the title of “Touched With Fire” highlights a hefty number of creative visionaries who had manic-depressive disorder (bipolar) and how it impacted their art. I like that name, “Touched With Fire” it is very telling.
Those artists also, at times, gave credit to their manic episodes for some of their best work.
"This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you", Vincent ❤ A beautiful soul, who truly was able to find the " Sacred in the profane", as Fr. Richard Rohr teaches today. 🙏❤🌻
Just listened to the "Vincent" (Don McLean) on youtube, the version with many of Van Gogh's paintings. Sublime lyrics, truly masterful paintings. Brought tears to my eyes.
and music inside me." Oh my goodness, how I feel this sentence. Thank you for sharing this...I have never read Van Gogh's letters, or anything, before.
That poem probably describes all writers and artists. We are misfits, but far more important in mirroring society than we believe. Maybe we are outliers because society doesn't like who they see in the mirror.
“Misfit creatives” as I like to call us. Oddballs who hold up a mirror to a society that often doesn’t wish to see its own reflection, thus leaving some of us unheard, exiled.
I live in a little village where his father was a reverent, I can see the top of the roof of his church from my window ... His aunt is buried at the end of the street where I life. The most impressive trees are standing outside and when I walk underneath them I wonder if he has seen them. If they where there when he was here ...
He was the first painter whose work enlightened me ... It's impossible to kill creativity, he taught me. It has to be followed whatever they say ... You know, because it makes one feel alive, feel part of the universe of this earth.
He sold one piece during his life, to Theo his brother. He taught me, create and you will live ... whatever they pay ... So I do, I create through poverty, through prejudices, through it all ... to stay grounded and have a mind of my own, loving life.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of love Vincent was, whatever they said.
“Vincent"
Don McLean
Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy, linen land
Now, I understand what you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand
Now, I understand, what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left inside
On that starry, starry night
You took your life as lovers often do
But I could have told you, Vincent
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you
Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now, I think I know what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will
Thanks for sharing this song. I was hearing it in my head as I read along. :)
Why do you like this song, Catherine?
I am confused - whose song is that song and when was it written?
It's don McLean of "American pie" song writing fame. It was from the 70s I think
I've always loved this song. Thx for sharing it!
"What Am I" is deeply moving.
Poetry!
It's an incredibly sad song, but it seems to capture his life so well.
What a worthy goal. To be labeled strange, eccentric, but to make it your aim to let people know what you had in your heart. I love that. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for posting the great Van Gogh. One of the great poet/painter combos the world has ever known. He also showed us, proved to us, that one can paint and make art entirely for oneself, with all the added struggles of being human. In doing so, by painting and writing for himself, he painted and wrote for all of us-for humanity- who, for Van Gogh, showed up much too late.
There’s a part of human nature that wars against sensitivity.
Which part exactly?
The part, for example, that sends beloved poets to the gulag.
His letters are amazing!
Touching. Vincent Van Gogh was possibly a manic-depressive, or possibly schizophrenic. (A hint of this was his inability to stay away from the young woman he loved/lusted after. And his cutting off of a portion of his ear to show her how much he loved her. And Vincent was, of course, a wonderful, great artist. If he were lifted out of history and dropped in a big American city, maybe he'd be pushing a shopping cart filled with his canvases and paints, looking for whatever catches his eye. His mania would still drive him to paint. But if he was unlucky, the State would put him on some kind of Prozac-like zombie medication that would have taken away his compulsion to paint.
“There is a thin veil between madness and genius.”
A book by the title of “Touched With Fire” highlights a hefty number of creative visionaries who had manic-depressive disorder (bipolar) and how it impacted their art. I like that name, “Touched With Fire” it is very telling.
Those artists also, at times, gave credit to their manic episodes for some of their best work.
"This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you", Vincent ❤ A beautiful soul, who truly was able to find the " Sacred in the profane", as Fr. Richard Rohr teaches today. 🙏❤🌻
Just listened to the "Vincent" (Don McLean) on youtube, the version with many of Van Gogh's paintings. Sublime lyrics, truly masterful paintings. Brought tears to my eyes.
This is a message that all the 'outsiders' need to hear. Thank you.
"Though I am often in the
depths of misery,
there is still calmness,
pure harmony
and music inside me."
This speaks volumes about the human Spirit, about creativity, about bringing our gifts into the world no matter how hard our life might seem.
"Though I am often in the
depths of misery,
there is still calmness,
pure harmony
and music inside me." Oh my goodness, how I feel this sentence. Thank you for sharing this...I have never read Van Gogh's letters, or anything, before.
That poem probably describes all writers and artists. We are misfits, but far more important in mirroring society than we believe. Maybe we are outliers because society doesn't like who they see in the mirror.
“Misfit creatives” as I like to call us. Oddballs who hold up a mirror to a society that often doesn’t wish to see its own reflection, thus leaving some of us unheard, exiled.
I live in a little village where his father was a reverent, I can see the top of the roof of his church from my window ... His aunt is buried at the end of the street where I life. The most impressive trees are standing outside and when I walk underneath them I wonder if he has seen them. If they where there when he was here ...
He was the first painter whose work enlightened me ... It's impossible to kill creativity, he taught me. It has to be followed whatever they say ... You know, because it makes one feel alive, feel part of the universe of this earth.
He sold one piece during his life, to Theo his brother. He taught me, create and you will live ... whatever they pay ... So I do, I create through poverty, through prejudices, through it all ... to stay grounded and have a mind of my own, loving life.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of love Vincent was, whatever they said.
I like how this was turned into a kind of poem....
they say Van Gogh didnt kill himself. It was some kids playing with a gun
That was lovely. Thank you to his sister in law upon whom it fell to make sure Vincent was remembered.