Once heard never forgotten. Review on Vincent Van Gogh - Meyer Schapiro

On March 30, 1853 Anna CorneliaCarbentus gave birth to a boy in Groot-Zundert, Holland. Unbeknownstto her or the father, Reverend Theodorus van Gogh of the protestantchurch, this boy:

• would be tormented by severe mental instability forthe majority of his life

• die from his own hands

• *and ultimatelychange the outlook on art for the rest of history.*

His life was tobecome one of uncertainty and madness, involving largely his own needto find a niche and the undeniable love for art. This man was**Vincentvan Gogh.*

Van Gogh's finest works were producedin **less than three years** in a technique that grew more and more**impassioned** in brushstroke, in symbolic and intense color, in surfacetension, and in the movement and vibration of form and line.

VanGogh's inimitable fusion of form and content is powerful;**dramatic, lyrically rhythmic, imaginative, and emotional, ****for the artist wascompletely absorbed in the effort to explain either his struggleagainst madness or his comprehension of the spiritual essence of manand nature.*

Towards the end of 1888, the firstsigns of Van Gogh's mental illness began to take hold. He sufferedfrom various types of epilepsy, psychotic attacks, and delusions. Asthe year of 1888 came to an end, Vincent traveled toSaint-Rémy-de-Provence where he committed himself to an asylum. Herehis paintings became a torrent of activity. Although he could notdraw and paint for long periods of time without suffering from anattack, he managed to create The Starry Night which residesas his most popular work and one of the most influence pieces inhistory. T**he swirling lines of the sky are a possible representationof his mental state. This same shaken style is visible in all of hiswork during his time in the asylum.*

His brother Theo, who had collected themajority of Vincent's work from Paris, died only six months later.His widow took the collection to Holland and dedicated herself togetting the now deceased Vincent the recognition he deserved. Shepublished his work and Vincent became famous nearly instantly.**Hisreputation has been growing since. *

The story of Vincent vanGogh's tragic life, filled with mental evils and artistic triumphs, lingers almost becoming that of legend. His work is still astoundingmillions around the world daily, and though he sold only one paintingin his life, his influence on the outcome of art has been amazing andoverwhelming. His paintings have reached new records when sold forhundreds of millions of dollars, and his persona has sparked numberone hit songs. **Vincent van Gogh has altered mankind forever. and hebelieved his life was a terrible failure!*

*Biography compiled from