by Aubrey Jill I. Ledesma
I have known this famous painter for quite some time now, and seeing a glimpse of his life made me want to know more about him.
Watching NowYouKnowAbout’s YouTube video was very interesting; the visual representations were fun to watch, and the speaker’s point-of-view which, Vincent van Gogh himself narrated his adventure was excellent.
“I loved painting sunshine, but often felt gloomy,” the first line was probably my favorite because I am an artist myself— it’s like painting was an escape for someone who wants to escape how hard life can be.
The symbolism of social status where Vincent’s mother usually wears clogs— traditional footwear is worn by farmers and the working class often has a poor reputation for being cheap. This shows that he had little financial success as an artist during his lifetime and often lived in poverty.
It is undeniable that throughout Vincent’s life, he suffered from a severe mental illness—he was in conflict with himself. He suffered from bouts of depression and terrible guilt whether from his childhood traumas, conflicts with loved ones, and the need to release suppressed emotions. In these episodes are evident that Vincent was trying to understand his purpose in life.
Even though he poured all his emotions through art, it’s a pity how his artworks cannot give back the love and satisfaction he needed. The fact that he was trying to resolve his efforts by exploring and identifying his limitations and capabilities is something that has been done later after his death. He may have been the most well-known, respected, and influential artist in the world today, but not in his time.
And I think that’s the downside of self-discovery; you can only witness your strongest potential if you failed at something or worse, you die— not knowing that you have already accomplished what you always dreamed of.
In van Gogh’s case even though he lived his life full of sadness and desolation, he still achieved his greatest purpose in life. He may not survive long enough to witness his popularity, but he inspired not only artists but also those who were beginning to love art through his expertise. This further implies greater freedom for artists to embrace the beauty of art and self-existence.
Vincent van Gogh may have died in vain, but he left behind an incredible collection of astonishing artworks that will remain forever in the hearts of those who see him as a beautiful man who deserved not just the stars, but the entire universe.
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