Van Gogh’s Ear is a journey to discover the truth and revisit some of the myth surrounding Vincent Van Gogh’s tormented yet passionate life. In this book, Murphy looked into forgotten archival materials, visited towns and museums, and brought Van Gogh’s world vividly to life, including some of the most important people he was involved with, such as police inspector, “Rachel” who he gave his ear to, his brother Theo, and fellow artist Gauguin.
Murphy took lots of effort trying to piece together clues that might shed light on the artist’s life and his mental state. This book can be also seen as an interesting and in-depth detective work. What amazed me the most was how often Van Gogh was in distress yet able to keep painting. Symptoms for mental illness were clear but back then the treatment for mental illness was very minimal and rudimentary. After reading this book, I can never look at Van Gogh and his painting the same way. I feel deeply sorrowful for what Van Gogh went through in his short and intense life, however, I think the world is so much richer for what he had done.
An animated biography drama film called Loving Vincent (http://lovingvincent.com/) was released last year. It is the world’s first fully painted animated feature film about Van Gogh’s death. It was an unique experience and beautifully done. This movie is also nominated for an Oscar this year. I’d recommend this film to anyone who is interested in Van Gogh’s story or looking for a different movie experience.
Related:
Loving Vincent [Bluray] ON ORDER
Van Gogh’s Ear (2016, Documentary)
Lust for Life (adapted from Irving Stone’s novel)
Van Gogh and the Sunflowers (Picture book)
Camille and the Sunflowers (Picture book)
The Artist and Me (Picture book)
Van Gogh: His Life and Works in 500 Images : An Illustrated Exploration of the Artist, His Life and Context, With A Gallery of 280 of His Finest Paintings
Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh (2005, Documentary)
Mystical Landscapes: Vincent Van Gogh to Emily Carr (an exhibition from the AGO, 2016)
Irises: Vincent Van Gogh in the Garden
Van Gogh’s Imaginary Museum: Exploring the Artist’s Inner World
I wonder whether Van Gogh was able to paint not in spite of his distress, but perhaps precisely because of it – though I’m also hesitant to say this because it feeds into the whole “artist as tortured soul” stereotype, which is at once troubling (in that we expect artists to be tormented and to suffer for their art, also making the implicit assumption that anyone who doesn’t suffer for their art is not a proper artist) and minimizes the role of the artist in the whole process (because at that point, the artist loses agency in the narrative over their own artwork, leaving that stroke of genius – another loaded term – to whatever negative circumstances inspired the work). Either way, sounds like a really interesting read, especially for an artist so loaded with myths and rumours!
That’s an interesting point! I guess for most of his life, he had been in some kinds of mental distress, I guess we can never know :p It was a very informative read but also very intense and sad!
Great post, thanks Lily! I love The Artist and Me, great picture book.
I didn’t buy a calendar until about three weeks into 2018 because I sort of hyped it up for myself (whatever I choose, I told myself, I have to live with for THE WHOLE YEAR!). This is true. I eventually bought a calendar full of van Gogh’s paintings equipped with excerpts from his letters. I loved reading your post, and cannot WAIT to see Loving Vincent. It’s a pleasure to hear about animated films that have decided to work freely in the no-man’s-land that now defines anything not sliding at break-neck speed into the onslaught of CGI and computer-animated films.
Van Gogh certainly had a melancholic start in life – name (and I’ve read even the exact same birthday, a year prior)was already carved on a headstone at a local cemetery (a still birthed brother, before he was born, given an identical moniker). Also, his mother Anna was an artist – I had no idea! I would love to see some of her drawings…
*his name
Thanks Victoria 🙂 Your calendar sounds lovely.
I discovered last week that we are getting Loving Vincent on DVD and Blueray actually, how awesome it that!
I put in my request for the DVD – thanks Lily!
And again, really great post — I loved reading it.