Tuesday, February 3, 2009

For Jim


Van Gogh's Migraines

Posted byJennifer GericsSep 29, 2007
Vincent Van Gogh, the famous Dutch Impressionist painter, suffered from severe migraines. He was thought to be insane, but migraines were not well-understood in the 1800's. They were thought to be a form of mental illness. Van Gogh spent time at a French insane asylum, St. Remy, where he created one of his most famous works, "Starry Night." It is said that he drew inspiration from his intense migraine auras. Perhaps these headaches enabled him to create the vivid, colorful paintings for which he is so well-known. (from suite101.com)

Quit trying to describe your aura and paint it. (van gogh was nuts too, bi-polar gets my vote but schitzophrenia is still in the running)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Never liked Van Gogh. Too much similarity with what I see from my PTC.

Makes me want to barf.

Sometimes I see Van Gogh stuff instead of faces. I hate that.

B. Perky said...

I like Van Gogh for the same reason, I can relate. Saw a great IMAX on his life and work. It was intense. I need to go up to the Getty soon and look at "Irises." If it's too crowded I occupy my time looking at the Cezannes and Monets they have in the same gallery.

Anonymous said...

Cezanne is interesting to me. Monet I absolutely love. I like the creamy appearance of Monet's work. Maybe that's partly what I don't like about Van Gogh - it's all so harsh. Monet is soft and creamy, dreamy. I like soft and dreamy. Van Gogh is more like what I see in nightmares and bad PTC days. Monet is more of what I see in lovely dreams and beautiful visions.

I just wish Van Gogh had been able to be more happy. I think I would have been able to enjoy his work then. His work is so dark and unhappy - even his sunflowers. How can you mess up sunflowers???

B. Perky said...

Interesting how the same piece of art can affect every one differently.

Unknown said...

Becky,

I'm not sophisticated enough to be an art crticic. I like Van Gogh's polynesian nudes for obvious reasons, but the many sunflower studies really appeal to me the most. I like "Starry Night" and "The Scream" speaks to me on a very primal level, but I don't like to look at them like the flowers.

B. Perky said...

Not an art critic here either. The Polynesian nudes are Paul Gaugain. He was a friend of Van Gogh and they shared a house and studio for a while. I believe that it is portrayed in a painting by Vincent, the Yellow House.

Evard Munch painted the Scream. Don't know much about him.