Van Gogh, in spite of (or perhaps because of) his mental anguish, was the master of color combinations and textured paint applications and his genius is obvious even in this rather simple still life. Color to van Gogh is emotion; texture gives the painting movement and depth. The orange and yellow of the citrus fruits; the sharpness of the cypress needles; the smooth braiding of the wicker basket; and the vibrant yet limp blue-violet gardening gloves: perfection. And that ribbon of turquoise paint behind the basket: genius. This painting was made at a very fragile time in the artist’s life: he had just been released from the hospital following a breakdown after his disastrous blow-up with Gauguin (which resulted in Vincent cutting off part of his own ear), and he would be hospitalized again within a month of completing this still life after a second mental break. And yet, through despair and unbearable pain (and constant financial difficulties), van Gogh was able to create art of incredible beauty that still speaks volumes after all these years.
March theme: When Life Gives You Lemons...
VINCENT VAN GOGH (1853 - 1890), “Still Life of Oranges and Lemons with Blue Gloves”, 1889. National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.
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