“Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers” at the National Gallery - Pt 2

Note: This is the 2nd part reviewing London’s NG’s Van Gogh exhibition. See Part 1.

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Room 3 — “The Yellow House: An Artist’s Home”

The third theme of the exhibition concerns his time in Arles.

Arles was a tiny little town in Van Gogh’s day. Literally, a few houses and a railway line. The yellow house (below) was rented by van Gogh in early 1888. By September, he had bold plans to turn it into a modest “artist’s home” and commune for his artist friends from Paris. He used his major paintings as decoration for the house.

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Starry Night Over the Rhône - 1888

Awesome.

Quite possibly, my favorite painting of his. 

That’s the constellation of Ursa Major over the River Rhone at Arles.

The canvas overwhelms the senses with its immersive beautiful serene atmosphere.

As van Gogh explained:

“And it does me good to do what’s difficult. That doesn’t stop me having a tremendous need for, shall I say the word — for religion — so I go outside at night to paint the stars, and I always dream a painting like that, with a group of lively figures of the pals.”

 The vivid colours illuminating the painting.

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The Sower - 1888

Terrific.

A sower silhouetted against a colossal radiant sun.  We can feel the warmth and tranquility of a summer evening!

Japanese & Byzantine halo motifs. 

Different shades of verdure on the bark.

Sun - calm and swirling in tumult.

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Van Gogh’s Chair - 1888

An iconic painting of his simple chair.

There is something charming in its unadorned existence - much like van Gogh.

A warped funny flooring perspective. This was painted after Paul Gauguin visited him in Arles. 

Both chairs are supposed to act as surrogate portraits — representing their personalities and outlooks.

 

Van Gogh’s chair with pipe and tobacco on it.

I love the tiles.

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The Yellow House (The Street) - 1888

Wow! So incredible.

Van Gogh loved his tiny city of Arles.

This is such a beautiful urban view of the town with the steam-train passing by (in the back).

The vibrant palette of colours is just so magical.

The charm of arcadian life. Town folk holding hands.

Bridges with lovely trains - and smoke - flowing by.

It’s amazing what van Gogh can do with little dabs.

This is the yellow house with green shutters.

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The Bedroom - 1889

Fascinating.

Evokes a feeling of being homesick.

There are few curious bits of detail — the charming painting by the window, mirror and windows have a more abstracted colour palette. The floor’s teal and neutral maroon.

Love the red blanket too.

A self-portrait by his bed.

Incredible golden yellows of his straw chair.

Jug of water, a bowl, some bottles and a cup by his bed.

Painting seems a little simple.

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Self-Portrait - 1889

Holding his brush and palette - his emphatic declaration: “I am an artist”.

Apparently, he painted this after recovering from a bout of mental breakdown over July—Aug 1889.

A bit skinny, he is nevertheless quite dashing.

The blue is a great contrast to his yellowish features.

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The Alyscamps - 1889

Delightful.

A pair of lovers taking a promenade against autumnal trees. A sky that deftly highlights and contrasts the trees.

Supposed to be a medieval Roman sarcophagi in the back. 

Love the messy fore.

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The Green Vineyard - 1888

Bewitching in its fluidity. This has such an amazing atmosphere and charm.

I loved it.  It feels like you could walk into the field with your eyes.

The brushstrokes create a breezy cloudy sky.

Love the Japanese theme to the ladies - wagasa?

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Room 4 - Montmajour: The Series

The fourth theme concern some amazing - and to me, unheard off - large scale paper/pen drawings on paper. This is his famous “Montmajour series” - a collection of large views of the shimmering Provençal countryside.

Van Gogh really loved the landscapes surrounding Arles - especially the grounds around the 12th-century Montmajour Abbey. He made drawings which he later committed to large-scale works on paper. It’s a feat of his punctiliousness and imagination.

It shows the true depths of his fealty to the beauty of country life; and, I think, some quiet soul-searching. Van Gogh wrote:

“... But now I’ve been to Montmajour 50 times to see that view over the plain, if a view can make one forget such small displeasures, then it must have something ...”

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View of Arles from Montmajour - 1888

The tree dominate the centre, and the hilltop.

I love his trees’ & plants distinct bodies, the way he creates loops and everything curves.

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Trees, Montmajour - 1888

Awesome.

Love how the birds flying overhead gives the sky a breeze which animates the trees.

Love his delicate and patterned grass brushstrokes.

Love the tree’s contortions and how the barren

ground underneath emphasises the curvature.

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The Rock of Montmajour with Pine Trees - 1888

The rocky hillside with a thin footpath. 

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Hill with the Ruins of Montmajour - 1888

Is it the Abbey?

The Japanese prints again with their zooming in on a detail in the foreground.

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View of La Crau from Montmajour - 1888

Lovely. So beautiful.

So much detail and charm.

Horse carriage and a steam train behind.

Different worlds going in different directions.