Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch painter of the Post-Impressionist movement, was known for his unique approach to flower still lifes. He chose the sunflower variety after practicing with different flowers and invited French artist Paul Gauguin to join his Studio of the South. Van Gogh began painting sunflowers to brighten up the whitewashed landscapes in his Studio of the South.
Vincent’s paintings of sunflowers are among his most famous, and he painted them in Arles, France, between 1888 and 1889. In Arles, he painted vivid landscapes and portraits, full of color, emotion, and light. When Gauguin visited, Van Gogh painted various stills, including the bright yellow sunflowers.
During his time in Paris in 1887, Van Gogh painted four sunflower still lifes: two paintings simply titled Sunflowers and an oil painting study titled Sunflowers. Gauguin made this as a portrait of Van Gogh. British artist Matthew Smith, a powerful colourist, has shown the most sustained love for Van Gogh’s work.
In 1912, a year after Van Gogh’s series of sunflowers began, oil and pastel artist Jimmy Wright created sunflower paintings for 20 years. Van Gogh began his series with Three Sunflowers (August 1888), which he painted with a turquoise background. The restoration of the 130-year-old painting is a testament to Van Gogh’s unique style and the power of his sunflowers.
📹 How Van Gogh’s Sister-In-Law Made Him A Renowned Painter | Raider Of The Lost Art
Rediscovering history’s forgotten art; with the unearthing of a lost landscape by artist Vincent van Gogh in 2013, the hunt is on for …
What is the message of Claude Monet’s painting?
In his early years, Monet, like many other Impressionists, struggled with success, often painting landscapes and leisure activities in modern Paris. He aimed to capture fleeting moments by capturing the nuances of light and color, rather than the objects within the composition. As public opinion of Impressionism turned in the mid-1880s, Monet’s paintings began to sell well, and by the turn of the century, he was one of the world’s wealthiest artists.
Monet’s love for London was fueled by the constantly changing light and atmospheric effects of the fog in London. He painted from his suite at the Savoy Hotel on the Thames River, constantly switching out the canvas to find the one that best matched his current vision. He wrote to his Paris dealer, “I cannot send you a single canvas, because for the work I am doing, it is indispensable to have all of them before my eyes”. Monet brought unfinished canvases back home and spent years reworking them in his studio, resulting in a total of 41 paintings of Waterloo Bridge.
What did Vincent van Gogh’s painting sunflowers sell for in 1987?
Japanese insurance magnate Yasuo Goto paid a record-breaking $39, 921, 750 for van Gogh’s Still Life: Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers at Christie’s London in 1987. This was over three times the previous record of $12 million paid for Andrea Mantegna’s Adoration of the Magi in 1985. The painting currently resides at the Seiji Togo Yasuda Memorial Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo. The purchase sparked controversy over whether the painting is a genuine van Gogh or an Émile Schuffenecker forgery.
Two Paris versions of van Gogh’s work, exchanged with Gauguin in December 1887 or January 1888, were sold to Ambroise Vollard in 1895 and 1896. The first canvas was later acquired by Vollard and sold to Degas, Rosenberg, Hahnloser, and the Kunstmuseum Bern. The second was acquired by Dutch collector Hoogendijk at the sale of his collection by Kann, who ceded the painting to Richard Bühler and then to the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
What is so special about sunflower painting?
Sunflowers is a powerful painting by Vincent van Gogh, featuring a simple motif of sunflowers in a vase. Van Gogh painted multiple versions of the sunflowers, but only completed five, which are on display in museums worldwide. The painting was intended to decorate Van Gogh’s yellow house in Arles, but he completed only five, which are now on display in Amsterdam, Munich, London, Tokyo, and Philadelphia. Paul Gauguin, who lived with Van Gogh for over two months, asked for one of the sunflowers in exchange for some studies.
How many times did Vincent van Gogh paint Sunflowers?
Vincent van Gogh, known for his sunflower painting, created multiple versions of the painting, which are now found in museums worldwide. These versions include five from Tokyo to Amsterdam, as well as two private versions and one lost during World War II. The other painting is in private hands. The collection includes two paintings from the Neue Pinakothek in München and the National Gallery in London.
Who is famous for sunflowers?
Sunflowers is a powerful painting by Vincent van Gogh, featuring a simple motif of sunflowers in a vase. Van Gogh painted multiple versions of the sunflowers, but only completed five, which are on display in museums worldwide. The painting was intended to decorate Van Gogh’s yellow house in Arles, but he completed only five, which are now on display in Amsterdam, Munich, London, Tokyo, and Philadelphia. Paul Gauguin, who lived with Van Gogh for over two months, asked for one of the sunflowers in exchange for some studies.
What happened to Vincent van Gogh’s sunflower painting?
Protesters in the UK have damaged van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” painting, causing concern about the impact on a civilization that doesn’t exist. The National Gallery confirmed that only the frame was slightly damaged and the protesters were arrested. However, the real damage to the fight against the oil industry seems to have been done. Media response has been mixed, with some suggesting that throwing soup at paintings won’t save the climate, while TikTok has fueled conspiracy theories that protesters were hired by the oil industry to turn the public against protests. The protest aimed to halt new oil licensing across Great Britain.
Why did Claude Monet paint a bouquet of sunflowers?
Claude Monet, a French painter and the archetypal representative of the Impressionist movement, was born into a family of businessmen and soldiers. He decided to pursue an art career through his own will, and in 1880, he decided to bring back the sunflowers by painting a grisaille to be sent to Theo Van Gogh. He intended to pair it with a smaller still life of sunflowers that could be bought or exchanged, but hoping to keep the paintings together. This project was a farewell to the part of his life that had been full of the same interests and struggles that had made Monet’s life so trying.
Monet was not born into the art world, but he was inspired by the younger artist, Pissarro, who shared an apartment with him. Through learning from Pissarro, Monet truly understood the Impressionist ideal and managed to soldier on even during the Franco-Prussian War. Despite the lack of means during the war, Monet persevered with his dreams and learned the economy of his craft.
The Bouquet of Sunflowers painting, created around the time Van Gogh was making a name for himself in the French art world, was a testament to Monet’s belief in the younger artist’s work. It is a matter of record that Monet was the only artist of that time to purchase a Van Gogh painting, which is a powerful indication of his belief in the work of the younger man.
The sunflowers presented Monet with a new challenge, and he took to it with dedication. He filled his time between late summer and late autumn of 1881 painting still-lifes of sunflowers to the displeasure of his patrons, who did not understand the reason for such a sudden shift in his subject matter. Monet, with his characteristic single-mindedness, was attempting to explore the effects of light and shadow on color on a subject that had captured him in a way that flora had not done before.
However, when painter Albert Aurier visited Monet in August 1882, he declared that it had been too long since Monet had last completed a canvas like the one he was working on, and his efforts to capture what he had learned from nature rang true.
How much is the sunflower painting by Van Gogh worth?
The painting “Sunflowers,” created by the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh, was sold at an auction held by Christie’s for the sum of $40 million, assuming the effects of inflation are taken into account. Subsequently, the painting was purchased by the Yasuda Insurance Company in Tokyo, which was subsequently taken over by Sompo. It is currently on display at the Sompo Museum of Art. Should the painting be offered for sale once more, it is anticipated that its value would be in the region of several hundred million dollars.
How many sunflower paintings did Vincent van Gogh paint?
Vincent van Gogh’s sunflower paintings are highly regarded, with twelve of them being his most famous. The most famous are seven he painted in Arles between 1888 and 1889, while the other five were painted in Paris in 1887. The Sunflowers Series, which originated in 1886 when Van Gogh relocated to France with his brother Theo, was a response to his dissatisfaction with life in Paris. He found solace in sunflowers, despite the risk of becoming “wholly numb” if he stayed, and the painting has been the subject of recent environmental protests.
Why did Van Gogh paint 12 sunflowers?
Vincent van Gogh, a renowned artist, demonstrated the ability to create images with multiple variations of a single color without losing eloquence. His sunflower paintings, particularly his sunflowers, symbolized ‘gratitude’. To provide a better website experience, we use functional and analytical cookies to ensure proper functionality and anonymous usage insights. We request your consent to set ad-related and other cookies, and if you agree, click ‘Accept’.
📹 Vincent Van Gogh Visits the Gallery | Vincent and the Doctor | Doctor Who
Clip from Doctor Who Series 5 Episode 10, Vincent and the Doctor. Selected by Neeti Sabnani for #ThrowbackThursday. WATCH …
Every person who ever loved Van Gogh wished for a scene like this. A scene where, somehow, poor, lonely Vincent would see that one day he’d be remembered and adored. That his brother’s faith and support were well-founded. That his work, the paintings he poured so much of his soul into, would be cherished. If only.
Van Gogh’s final words before his death were akin to “the sadness will last forever.” Reading his writings on his own struggles with depression and mental illness is both deeply touching and heartbreaking. So seeing Van Gogh realize just how much meaning and impact his life had, and how much he means to so many people, and that his struggles and pain in life weren’t for nothing… it’s incredibly cathartic. Truly wish I could bring Van Gogh back to life for a day just so I could give the man a big hug myself and tell him how much his works mean to me.
I actually cried, vangogh was seen as a failure in his time, he was a tortured soul who dealt with homelessness and mental illness, his art was laughed at and he died probably feeling useless and insignificant. It was really moving to see the humbleness and just absolute shock and joy of vincent, to see what he thought was useless to be considered as infamous
After Vincents death, Vincents brother campaigned heavily among the art scene on behalf of his brothers paintings, but sadly passed away only 6 months after Vincent. It was the brother’s widow who ultimately completed the mission by hosting sales exhibitions of Vincents work that piqued the interest of some rather big names in the art world at the time. In 1905, she succeeded in arranging the largest ever exhibition of Van Goghs work, showcasing 480 of his pieces. Following this, the average price of a Van Gogh painting skyrocketed, not peaking until 1989 with the most expensive art transaction in history when a japanese buyer purchased a piece for 82 million USD. By her death in 1925, Vincents legacy as the greatest painter in history was firmly secured.
so they found an actor who looked exactly like van gogh AND played him perfectly. magnificent. Edit: lmao apparently i triggered quite a few people with my casual, light hearted youtube comment. the fact that he looks like van goghs self portraits is undeniable and by “played him perfectly” i obviously meant that he generally did a really believable acting job, in a way i could imagine van gogh would’ve acted like. of course we can’t actually know what he would have acted like in reality, what an obvious and unnecessary comment to make. congrats you really showed us simpletons by commenting that.
What makes this scene even more poignant isn’t so much the fact that Van Gogh died penniless and believed himself a failure and the Doctor shows him the impact his work had on future generations. It’s the fact that all human beings, famous or not, want to know their lives had some meaning and that we had an effect on the world, even if that effect never goes beyond our own families. We want to know our children are successful and happy, and the fact that we played some part in that. That is what truly gives this scene its power.
Fun fact: if not for Vincent Van Gogh’s sister-in-law, Jo Bonger, his talent might never have been recognized, ever. After Vincent’s brother died–her husband–she recognized Vincent’s talent for what it was and set about finding every painting of his that she could, from things that he basically threw away, to things that he had given away to other people thinking them essentially worthless. For years she collected all of his work that she could find until she died, and curated his work for various museums and galleries and promoted shows of his work every where that she could find anyone who showed any interest at all. Because of Bonger’s tireless promotion, Van Gogh quickly grew famous from the powerful impact of the talent he had and that she recognized and showed to the rest of the world. The sad part is that she realized the probably hundreds or more of his works that were painted over or destroyed, and some even just thrown away, never to be recovered. She collected what she could find, documented all of it, and brought his beauty to the rest of us in the world. If not for her lifelong quest to find and popularize her brother-in-law’s exquisite work, the rest of us might never have seen any of it nor even had heard of his name. The rest of it, as they say, is history…but it was all due to Jo Bonger’s passion and drive to rescue Vincent Van Gogh’s work and reputation from the dustbin of history that we have anything to admire at all.
I really adore the fact that when the Doctor said that the museum contained many of the best artworks from history, Van Gogh was so delighted by the idea, and how he was drinking everything in and smiling so much as they walked through the museum. It never occurred to him that his works might be amongst these other great pieces, he was just going on an art tour.
I think the most painful fact is that the Dr knew this wouldn’t change the outcome of van gogh’s life. He took him here to show that his art would live on forever but the Dr knew that this wouldn’t stop van gogh from committing suicide, but but gave him peace of mind that it wasn’t all for nothing. Powerful stuff
Can you just imagine being called mad and looked down upon your entire life, people telling you that you’re not good enough, having to choose between paint supplies and food. Then some random person comes along and shows you a building in the future that contains the best paintings in history, only to then find out that not one, but an entire section of it is dedicated to your work.
To me, Van Gogh is the finest painter of them all. Certainly the most popular great painter of all time. The most beloved, his command of color most magnificent. He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world… no one had ever done it before. Perhaps no one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence, was not only the world’s greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived.
Ok, so the most important part of this episode comes at the end. When they return, they see that Vincent still loses the battle with his own mind. Amy: So you were right. No new paintings. We didn’t make a difference at all. The Doctor: I wouldn’t say that. The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and… bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don’t necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant. And we definitely added to his pile of good things. This literally helped me through my mother’s death.
You can see his eyes getting redder as he gets more emotional hearing the curator’s words and seeing his art on the walls. It makes me realize that we may never see the payoff in life for most of the good we do. Vincent Van Gogh was tormented in life and is praised in death. He never got to see when people had another good long look at his work to see its beauty. This scene almost felt like closure for him, even in spite of how fictional it is.
Ok, not gonna lie. I’ve never watched a single episode of Doctor Who and I have no idea what the episode is about aside from Van Gogh, but just this scene alone is so powerfully emotional it almost hurts. And the actor really sells the emotions almost without saying a single word. It’s absolutely amazing.
No one may understand it but this moment always brings me to tears. Van Gogh is and has always been my favorite painter, his life an inspiration for those of us who have also been dealt a harsh hand. The actor, the scene, the show is such a beautiful moment of art and cinema. I wish the show was still at this degree. So many memories.
I love that they didn’t treat depression as something that can easily be cured. It is a debilitating condition. A depressed person could be sitting in a room, surrounded by their favorite things, and still feel nothing. A depressed genius painter can see his paintings, hundreds of years after his death, on the walls of one of the most prestigious museums in the world, and it won’t cure his depression. Because that’s not how depression works. Yes, you can absolutely know the impact you’ll have on the world with your art and that won’t cure your depression. I hope, if there is an afterlife, that Vincent is at peace.
I’m amazed they found such a great actor who resembles the man so closely. It’s a truly beautiful collection of pieces that all worked perfectly together. I also want to note how after kissing the man on the cheek he apologized for his beard. to me, this shows in a small yet largely meaningful way. his problems arent just all gone from this visit. he still has a loathing for even the smallest part of himself even on his best day. very literally the best day of his life, and somewhere beyond it.
“And that’s that. No happy ending. No peaceful death. He was broken, and left a legacy for us all to ponder. He shattered into colour splashes and brush strokes, and showed us emotions we could never understand. That no one will ever understand. Vincent was never successful as an artist, but now his pieces are worth billions. I hope Vincent can see what we think of him now. I hope he became just another star in that starry, starry night.”
That was one of the most beautiful short stories of Vincent van Gogh that I’ve ever watched. I have a deep love for him…My son had a brain tumor and another brain illness…he shot himself in the head and died. He was one of the sweetest souls that ever lived and oh how I miss him. I feel I know Vincent..as I’m a struggling artist myself, with very little money, barely enough to buy paints/canvases etc. I’m considered eccentric myself…All I can say is I love Vincent as I did and do my dear sweet son…
The man who played Van Gogh is such a extraordinary actor, it is amazing how he captured the character so vividly! The facial expressions and the emotions he shows were both expressive yet natural. The feeling of proudness, relief, joy, and shock was perfected in a professional and experienced manner. His body language also tells a lot, the way he expressed the feeling of admiration to the artworks of other artists. You can even see a bit of self-abatement in the few seconds of him reacting to the other artworks in that museum. The finish with all his built-up emotions release as he heard the man’s words of appreciation towards him, that is just a perfect example of what a good actor should produce in a film. With all my respect, hats off him!
I’ve never watched Doctor Who, but this scene is hitting me so hard right now. Van Gogh really is an extraordinary painter, but his life was filled with suffering. A painter myself, it makes me feel so emotional to see his reaction to the world finally seeing the beauty in his work. Especially since all those painting must have taken so long, putting all his effort into them as well.
“He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world, no one had ever done it before.” That’s the line where I come unglued every single time….even though I disagree that Van Gogh was the first to do it; he was certainly among the best to do it. It’s so spot on…pain is easy. Using it to fuel something positive is a whole ‘nother story.
This scene was done so, so beautifully. The choice of music; Van Gogh’s not even considering that they are there to show him HIS art; Van Gogh’s lack of even a hint jealousy for the successful artists but rather wonderment, respect, and admiration, the curators; the curator’s speech; Van Gogh’s facial expressions… it was all done perfectly, down to the change in focus from the painting of his face to his actual face as a transition. I am so glad they took the time to do this scene right. The scene has made me tear up and feel emotions I wasn’t previously aware existed every time I’ve seen it. I love Blink as much as the rest of us, but this tops even that. It’s my favorite scene, and is meaningful as a stand-alone. The only context you need to know in order to appreciate this scene is that The Doctor used a time machine to bring Van Gogh to 2010 to appreciate this scene.
This makes me cry everytime. As an artist who never thought of having self worth. Attempted but kicked down and rejected many times, feeling that misery and thinking their work meant nothing. It hits home time and time again. For me personally people ask why i dont paint nice things, why is it so dark and gloomy. My personal history through experiences made my art look the way it does. I never reply cause i dont want them to know i havent had enough good experiences in my life to paint nice things. With Vincent Van Gogh i can see his insecurities in his paint. But he made it his style, sketching paint strokes into a unified piece. I dont think he ever trusted himself, always judging himself if he was doing it right. Starry night, he said that was a failure because it wasnt what he invisioned in his mind. Artists tend to be their own biggest critics.
I don’t even watch Doctor Who. However, I am huge fan of Vincent Van gogh. He is my favourite painter and his story always made me sad. I just came across this article on youtube by accident and couldn’t resist perusal this and it brought me to tears. I would like to hug Vincent and tell him how much I like his art. Truly the greatest artist of them all!
Tony Curran as Vincent Van Gogh was one of – if not the most – spot-on casting I have ever seen. He not only knew exactly how to play the part, but let’s face it, he has much more than a passing resemblance to Mr. Van Gogh. In my 30’s (when I first saw this episode) he really made me believe he was a centuries-old painter and this episode was a documentary.
the curator guy is gonna spend his nights awake thinking about what happened that day. not sure if that really was his hero who he felt deeply for or just some random emotional guy edit: went back to watch this article again when i found my comment at random, with a thousand plus likes?? damn so i’m not the only one crying then
Van Gogh painted about 2100 artworks in just a decade, but only a few were sold. His work was unappreciated because he was ahead of his time. He found fame only after his death, just like he said, “I can’t change the fact that my paintings don’t sell. But the time will come when people will recognize that they are worth more than the value of the paints used in the picture.”
My Dad took me to see these when I was young in St. Louis. He took me and my brother on a day when it was supposed to be free but he didn’t know the free tickets were limited and they had run out. He couldn’t bear for his kids to miss what may be the only opportunity in our whole lives to see the original Van Goghs. He noticed that the exit to the exhibit was in the gift shop. So we went “shopping” and then he quietly steered us into the exhibit. Sometimes he says he wasn’t a very good father but moments like that make me remind him that he is human. He made some mistakes but he’s still a good Dad.
I love Vincent’s reaction to the curator’s statement of Vincent being the finest painter of them all. He is shocked sure but I think he doesn’t fully believe him either. He knows the greatness that is out there and in his humility he can’t see how he compares. Yet as the curator explains why he’s the finest, he comes to realize just how impactful and beautiful his paintings are and why they mean so much to other people. He thought he was a failure and many people considered him to be a failure in his life up to his death. To know that he wasn’t a failure and more importantly, that his work went on to inspire others and show the beauty that exists in pain and anguish meant the world to him. I don’t think this scene could have portrayed Vincent’s reaction to the curator’s speech better. What a triumph!
This is probably one of the saddest scenes in all of doctor who, actually… ever. The song just blends into the scene so well with them some how getting an actor that not only looks uncannily like Van Gogh but also is just a great actor. The curator explaining how amazing and heart felt Van Goghs pairings were just, puts a smile on my face. This is probably one of my favourite scenes from any TV show, film or game ever. What an amazing series, scenes like this is why I love the 11th doctor.
imagine if this actually happend, imagine if you were that man standing there feeling wothless all your life and then suddenly 2 people came and made you feel different and maybe, made you have hope…..(damn this is the best episode ever not just in doctor who an the music really makes you feel it )
What a beautiful homage to Vincent Van Gogh. His story is a sad one, plagued by mental illness and depression, he lived and died in poverty, his work going unappreciated and unrecognized until a decade after his suicide in 1890, age 37. His last words were: “The sadness will last forever”. He’s now recognized as a pioneer of Post-Impressionism and Expressionism and one of the most important artists of all time.
This hits different when you realize that the Doctor knew this visit would not significantly alter Vincent’s life as far as the timeline is considered, so he would still end his life etc.. That could be viewed as pretty dark, but I find it even extra heartwarming, him putting the morbid outcome aside to still give joy to someone.
Everybody likes to hone in on the aspect of Vincent being thrust into the idea that his works are among some of the greatest in history, but if I’m honest, I do so value his reaction to the oblivious description behind him. His presented works give him the beautiful sense that yes he was talented and a grand artist, but the simple words of a man whom he barely knows are so very more uplifting. To hear the compliments, the inspiration, the legacy that he will lead. If any man needed to hear it, it was Vincent Van Gogh. That, is why I love this scene
One of the most beautiful moments in doctor who. Gotta be honest, if I had a time machine this would be the one thing I would want to do the most. Find those people who have given us so much joy and greatness, who have had such an incredible impact on the world but never got recocnised in their own lifetime so, at least in their last moments, they would know how great and important they were and how much we miss them in our time.
Bill Nighy’s monologue is beautiful. Through his pain and his grief, Van Gogh brought the world indescribable joy through his incomparable artwork. The tragedy of it is he never knew what an impact he would have, but in our own way, we offer him our love and wish him peace as we continue to enjoy his contributions.
At 02:00 – what Tony Curran does just with his eyes is incredible. Vincent looks at the Doctor as though he’s worried it’s all a mean trick. Looking at the Doctor as if to say “why have you done this to me” – then he hears someone described only as “Professor” start to talk so passionately about him in glowing terms, in a room full of his work (and fans there to see his work). One of my favourite ever Who episodes, and that’s with a weak, invisible monster of the week. All that was needed were these great actors and the idea that while we die, great works never will.
“To me, Van Gogh is the greatest painter of them all.” Vincent’s reaction to that alone just makes my heart leap to my throat. He saw all his paintings on display and he still had this look of denial, like there’s no way, his mind is playing tricks on him. But the moment someone actually says something, the world comes crashing down on him and you can see it in his eyes: “Did you—did you just say—you can’t have—the greatest?—but that’s—that’s my name…You actually think that…that I’m—?”
This is very much a message for all artists. Your art may not be widely appreciated in your life. It may not be commercially successfully. But that doesn’t mean your art doesn’t matter. You have no idea how meaningful it may end up being to people you’ll never meet. Although separated by time and place, your art may be the most important thing to someone.
I truly adore Vincent Van Gogh… his life was so hard and difficult and painting was his only way to express all the sadness and loneliness he was feeling… I would really love if this episode could be real… I hope that anyways, he knows how much his painting today are loved and admired in the entire world.
To me this scene personifies doctor who- it’s never been about the sci fi elements, it’s about how human everyone is regardless of their background. “You know that in 900 years in time and space I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t important before.” No one is unimportant, now imagine if the greatest artist that ever lived knew that too
Ive never seen Dr. Who but this scene is still very beautiful. Especially when Vincent, learning its a museum full of famous work, possibly not expecting his own, still shows sincerity and interest in his smile and his “oh thats wonderful!” Showing pride and joy for something that he thought wouldn’t make him famous
I don’t watch Dr Who, but I am an artist who knows a little about the life of Van Gogh. He was very poor and suffered from seizures and depression. He made 900 paintings in the span of 10 years, but only managed to sell one. His brother was there to hear his last words before he shot himself, which was: “La tristesse durera toujours” which means “The sadness will last forever” in French.
As someone struggling with depression daily, this episode hits very close to home. It portrays the struggle beautifully and in an optimistic manner. This scene encapsulates Van Gogh’s inner demons going away even if for a moment, and this to me will always be the greatest act of kindness the Doctor has ever done, as he had no reason whatsoever to bring Vincent to the present (on the contrary, he could’ve broken time entirely by doing so but he chooses to do so anyway), but he decides breaking time was worth it to bring a little respite to his broken soul. Even if in the end that doesn’t save him from his illness, every single happy memory counts and makes life worth living. Magnificent episode, beautifully directed, masterfully acted.
This is the power of a great time travel Doctor Who episode. Just like the Pompeii episode, it doesn’t try to erase the historical tragedy. Pompeii still falls, Vincent still dies. But there is always a way to make things, even in a small way, a little better than it was better. Whether it’s saving one family or giving Vincent one good day, time travel episode are at their best when they show how the smallest change can make all the difference.
I don’t even watch the show and this made me choke up. I know Van Gogh’s story all too well and it’s always been one that just breaks my heart. He was ahead of his time and he never knew it. To see this. To see him finally know his impact(albeit in a fictional manner) on the world and realize that it wasn’t all for nothing is just beautiful. And Tony Curran is such a great actor, he was a perfect choice.
Such a touching sentiment, Van Gogh was a tortured soul, a lonely underappreciated master (in his time) who struggled with his own genius and depression, it would be a beautiful thing for this to happen to him, for him to know that he will be loved and appreciated and remembered throughout time. Also, what a performance from Tony Curran, such a brilliant portrayal.
The thing i most liked about this scene is how finished and thought out the character of Van Gogh is. Its not the beard or the fact he has ink on his hands. Its the fact his label is showing on the back of his jacket. Its that tiny subtle detail of an unfinished person which has been shown that shows how much thought Tony Curran has put into his portrayal of the character. Every nuance has been considered. Add that to a fabulous monologue by Nighy and this scene was always going to be a success
This scene is almost 12 years old. I watched this for the first time when it aired on TV as an eleven year old, and cried then. As an aspiring artist, Van Gogh’s story had always hit me hard and this scene packed a powerful punch. Now that was over half my life ago and I’m still crying over this scene. As someone who’s now been through what Vincent had experienced, I’m now slowly recovering from depression, which makes this scene all the more powerful. Doctor Who may not have been perfect, but I loved how this episode was written, and I loved the message of it. Depression can come with extreme lows and extreme highs, and in the extreme lows nothing can be done, as sadly was shown by how Van Gogh took his own life. But that doesn’t take away from the good moments in your life, doesn’t spoil them and that’s always something to remember, because even if it seems insignificant when you’re going through a low, it can be everything. Idk just something that really hit me hard when I came back and watched this scene again, because I really think this episode and it’s message had such a lasting impact on me for the better.
I have never watched Doctor Who, but somehow stumbled upon this clip. I have to say this maybe one of the best scenes i’ve ever watched. Taking something like science fiction and time travel and turning into this amazing, artistic, and emotional translation. Its an amazing idea to begin with but the execution was spot on. The camera work and the writing were perfect and the actors brought it to life.
This scene still gives me chills and reduces me to tears each and every time I see it. 6/18/19: for insight into the genius of Van Gogh look up Leonard Nimoy’s one man show “Vincent”. First performed in the ’80’s, Nimoy brings to life Vincent’s brother, Theo, who supported Vincent until his untimely suicide. It’s a labor of love and a masterpiece. I highly recommend perusal it.
It’s so beautiful perusal him ponder the modern world and then seeing his work in an art museum is just a different feeling. I wonder what other artists or famous people we could bring back for a short time to show them how much of an impact their works have had on the world and how many artists today that they’ve inspired. That’s the feeling I get from this scene is ✨Inspiration✨ it’s a brilliant feeling 🥰
Every time I need something to hug my soul, I come here, and it works every time. I still remember the first time I was able to see one of his works live. I had loved it since I was very young, and at that moment, I couldn’t hold back the tears. I hope that wherever he is, he knows how wonderful he is and will continue to be for all the generations to come.