Bedroom in Arles by Vincent Van Gogh
By Ritika Tiwari Monday, April 03, 2017 Art, AtoZChallenge
We live in a world of the internet, where you can literally become an overnight star and go rich instantly. Of course most of the celebrities will say how down to earth they are despite having millions in their banks accounts, but who’s buying it?
I mean, JLo might say she is Jenny from the block, but we really aren’t getting fooled by the rocks.
On the other hand, there are amazingly talented artists like Vincent Van Gogh, whose paintings now easily sell for over $30 million, and yet, the poor guy could only sell one painting in his entire life. He died thinking he was a failed artist.
This painting shows the humble beginnings of the artist - his bedroom in a small city just outside Paris, called Arles.
Painting his own bedroom
Before you assume, let me tell you, Vincent didn’t think that one day people would want to see where he slept so he should probably paint his room to make it immortal. He painted this because he had just moved to this house and wanted to put up some paintings on the walls.
Fun Fact: There are five versions of his bedroom made by him - Three paintings and two sketches.
By the way, the paintings above the bed here are all actual Vincent Van Gogh paintings, except for one (the one on the right). No one knows if there is one Van Gogh painting still unaccounted for or it was just a fictitious painting that he did.
I love the fact that Van Gogh doesn’t exactly recreate everything, he paints his own version.
Another fun fact, a recreated version of Van Gogh's bedroom was available for rent on AirBnB last year to promote the Art Institute of Chicago
Why I love the Bedroom in Arles
In a letter to his brother, Vincent revealed that he decided to paint his bedroom because he was incredibly sick and he couldn’t get out of bed for days.
To be able to find inspiration during sickness and in your own bedroom sounds fascinating to me, and inspiring at the same time. It makes me think that inspiration is where you want it to be.
As a writer, I am such a stickler to what makes me focus and what doesn’t. I have so many excuses for not being able to write, and then there is the genius Van Gogh who can create a stunning painting all by recreating his bedroom.
This post is a part of the A2Z Challenge I am doing, if you want to check all the A2Z posts, just click here
Posts
17 comments
I have been lucky enough to see some Van Gogh's up close in several exhibitions and the way he uses paint it captivating. I did not know that about the paintings on the wall. I guess someone might have a lost Van Gogh in their attic :)
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings - Shapeshifters and Werewolves
I haven't seen any of his paintings up close so I am already jealous!
DeleteI had seen this painting but did not know the story behind it... I love the theme you have chosen and the fact that you have taken the effort to research the story behind each... way to go!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ankita. The story behind the painting is so much more interesting than anything else
DeleteHmmmm I saw a mock up of this room at Gardens for Sculpture in NJ last year. Perhaps you should head that way for some interesting installations.....
ReplyDeleteWow! really? Definitely adding that to my list
DeleteThe modern equivalent of Van Gogh painting a miniature of his own painting into a new painting, is bloggers linking to their old posts in new posts :D
ReplyDeleteBack to the point. Knowing that Van Gogh converted even a moment of sickness and pain into something with tremendous meaning, is mind-blowing. It takes 'writing about writer's block' to an all new level!
Loving these posts, Ritika. Happy Monday :)
Haha.. probably :)
DeleteAnd yes, he does inspire me to write through writer's block
Never known that a painting be motivating
ReplyDeleteNice theme
thanks for sharing :) Bloom up Your Motherhood – What to expect during the First trimester of Pregnancy
Glad you liked it
DeleteInteresting. Painting while sick, trying to find an iota of happiness in the misery. Reminds me of Frida who painted when she was hurt and on her back for days. Glad to have stumbled across your blog and good luck for the challenge. :)
ReplyDelete[@samantha_rjsdr] from
Whimsical Compass
May be you are right there. May be painting did transcend him to a different place mentally - a place where he didn't feel so helpless anymore.
DeleteSad that he only sold about one painting in his lifetime. There is so much joy and beauty in his outdoor paintings. The flowers are luminous. And "Starry Night..." is one of my favourites. There's a wish-fulfilment episode of Dr Who, which ends with the Doctor taking Vincent into the present in the Tardis, to see an exhibition of his work, with lots of people wandering through, and Bill Nighy as the guy in charge, explaining to him why Van Gogh's work is so great. If only!
ReplyDeleteThere will be a Van Gogh exhibition in Melbourne later this month, can't wait!
Yes! I remember that episode very vividly. In fact, its one of my Doctor Who episodes. The next painting I am writing about - Cafe Terrace at Night, Van Gogh painted that at the start of that episode
Deletemaybe if he recreated the real bedroom it would be as messy as mine! Just Thinking.
ReplyDeleteTwinkling Tina Cooks
Tina Basu
His paintings of his bedroom are not one of my favs even though I appreciate his mastery. I thought this was done when Gauguin visited him and that is Guaguin's portrait on the wall?? Who knows but I'm glad he never saw my bedroom..:)
ReplyDeleteI love the story behind this. Again, excellent research.
ReplyDelete