I thought it fitting that for Modern Art Quotes' 100th post that it be a quote from one of my favorite painters of all time: Vincent Van Gogh. If anyone had feeling for nature and reality it was Vincent.
"It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which one should listen to, the feeling for the things themselves, for reality, is more important than the feeling for pictures."
-Vincent Van Gogh
What he is saying is thus: perception is more important than style; the reason why the artist chooses the subject matter, or the feeling he has for it is more important than painting it with academic acceptability. That is one of the recurring themes that occurs in a lot of the quotes I choose to write about here; that passion trumps tradition and repetition.
Artists are at the forefront of the evolution of human expression, and should be free to create even if the work offends some or is controversial. In my opinion that is what good art does, it stirs controversy up, starts conversations and debates, etc. It gets the mind thinking and the heart pumping. I've had a lot of fun writing this blog and hope to keep it going for a long, long time. Thanks for reading!
Artists are at the forefront of the evolution of human expression, and should be free to create even if the work offends some or is controversial. In my opinion that is what good art does, it stirs controversy up, starts conversations and debates, etc. It gets the mind thinking and the heart pumping. I've had a lot of fun writing this blog and hope to keep it going for a long, long time. Thanks for reading!
Van Gogh, Olive Grove, 1889.
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2 comments:
That's a great quote (and need I mention that the "Olive Grove" is great as well--no, I needn't, but I will anyway). I always think of Van Gogh as the epitome of an artist who painted because he absolutely had to, and it comes across in the way his paint breaks out of two dimensions to reach toward the reader. Of course, that doesn't show up in reproductions. Here in Philly, fortunately, we've got easy access to at least seven or eight paintings, including "Sunflowers" and my favorite "Rain"....
Thanks for reading Yoga! your comments are appreciated. You are right his work does break out of two dimensions, the Olive Grove really does anyways, (the only one I've seen in person). Wow, seven or eight in Philly? very cool.
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