In the footsteps of Van Gogh...
While in Arles, many years ago, I visited the very spot where Vincent Van Gogh painted one of his most famous paintings; ‘The Yellow House." He had a dream to turn the house into a refuge for artists. Paul Gauguin who like Van Gogh loved the the sun and colors of the south, came to Arles in October 1888 and stayed with Vincent for two months.
A wonderful view into the life of Van Gogh and other artists who visited Arles, is the book "Vincent Van Gogh - The Letters”. It offers an intimate account of the genius and sensitivity of Van Gogh. And how he longed for companionship and understanding. At the beginning all went well but soon they began to argue, and life together became unbearable. A few days before Christmas, they were in a bar where Gauguin said, Vincent threatened him with a razor. It was this event that precipitated the infamous act of Van Gogh cutting off a piece of his ear! It was one of the first serious signs of mental illness, and it’s a moment when things started to change in Vincent’s life.
"I think that Gauguin is a bit disappointed with Arles and above all, disappointed in me. I can’t exactly describe what I have.
I suffer terrible fits of anxiety at times. Without a clear cause. At times, I feel perfectly normal.
But the attacks increase in frequency. I think it's best I admit myself to an asylum."
"Perhaps you’ll be disillusioned with Arles if you come at a time when the mistral’s blowing, but wait...
It’s in the long term that the poetry down here soaks in."
"My dear Vincent, I’ve just read your interesting letter and I entirely agree with you on the slight importance
that accuracy contributes to art. Art is an abstraction; unfortunately we’re becoming increasingly misunderstood.
I would very much like it if we were to achieve our aims, that is, my coming to Provence. - Ever yours, P. Gauguin."
Join me as we follow in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh through Arles!
The charm of Arles has inspired artists for centuries. It offers a wealth of classical antiquities: Romanesque stonework and shuttered houses shading graceful Old Town streets and squares. The workshop is designed to be a fun, stimulating and stress-free, experience for beginners to advanced students. Everything has been carefully organized by Artful Journey's so you need only to paint and enjoy the wonderful experience of visiting France.
Journey Cost: $3,450.00 D/O. Single supplement $325. Non-painter spouses are welcome
Note: A deposit of $500 is required upon registration to secure your space
To register visit: https://www.artfuljourneysllc.com/paint-arles
For more info about the workshop and Eli Cedrone visit: https://elicedrone.faso.com/workshop/22668/plein-air-france
