ING: Sunflowers: The Importance of Peers

This morning, I opened a book on Vincent Van Gogh and came across the page printed with his seminal, easily recognized, yellow canvas of <Sunflowers>.

<Sunflowers> Arles, 1889, oil on canvas, 95 x 73 cm

Upon reading the published entry on his work, it became evident that one had to reflect on this famous painting representative of the Impressionists. It is worth considering that this is not the artist's "original" <Sunflowers>, because it was not a the first draft and version of this concept. Allow me to elaborate. Vincent Van Gogh first painted a painting of sunflowers for his friend and fellow Impressionist Paul Gauguin, who was coming to Van Gogh's home (the famous "Yellow House") in Arles to help fulfill the latter's dream of an artist community. Vincent's gift left enough of an impression for Gauguin to say that sunflowers should be Van Gogh's "trademark" (Van Gogh Museum, 2002). This led to a more finalized painting, another version, that was probably created in a more intensive and interpretive manner, resulting in this work we see today (above). I say more intensive and interpretive, because it was a work that Van Gogh made for himself, for his oeuvre, and most importantly, after feedback. We as an audience will likely never see his first <Sunflowers> that he created for Gauguin. I am very curious as to the similarities and differences between the two works.

Overall, this was a morning filled with thoughts about persona and peer feedback. Even for the greats, friends and advice were necessary-- and effective. It is easy to dehumanize our role models and icons, especially figures in history who seem so untouchable in their genius and singularity. In moments like this, they do seem human after all. I guess that is especially the case for an artist whose foremost reputation is a physical injury and demise resulting from internal, mysterious, and indeed very human, difficulties. It might be fun to take your role model off the pedestal today and think about how they may be closer to you in your struggles than you think.

Sources

Van Gogh Museum Staff, Roelie Zwikker, and Denise Willemstein. 2002. Masterpieces in the Van Gogh Museum. Edited by Geri Klazema. Italy: Printer Trento.