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Enjoy and get out on the farthest limb that will hold you—that’s where you’ll find most of the tastiest fruit.

Eden

Vincent van Gogh sans his red beard

1890: Vincent van Gogh died in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, two days after shooting himself.

From An Artist Empowered:

However, it appears that far from being the isolated lunatic on the fringe, van Gogh was a practical and methodical artist with a healthy sense of his times, coupled with an interest in science, astronomy, poetry, and literature. As Becky Hendrick, in her fine book, Getting It, puts it: “He was a great painter in spite of his mental illness, not as a result of it.” Van Gogh wasn’t mad when he painted or wrote letters, especially to his brother, Theo, which were clear, pragmatic, and mindful of his mission as an artist.

One could argue, as Albert Boime does, that Vincent was less mad and more a victim; he suffered seizures that were most likely brought on by a form of epilepsy; he didn’t recall cutting off his earlobe, and this frightened him.

On July 27, 1890, van Gogh left for a nearby field (earlier that month in the fields he had painted vast stretches of wheat, crows, and turbulent skies) where he shot himself—which might be explained away by a seizure, but not why he had a pistol with him. 

Conscience of the Prince

While the ‘what is art’ debate continues ad infinitum, its time for individuals (artists and the public) to take back their power and appreciation of art from the incestuous sterile directives of institutionalism, dogma, and the commodities market.

Why? Art isn’t an elective in school; art directly mirrors our evolution; and art contains the answers we need to make life on earth a tribute and prayer to the Creator.

Don’t doubt me.

For the Band

Although we categorize modern art as beginning after World War II, our view of the modern artist began in 16th century Italy—where the role of the artist changed dramatically—from a nameless artisan for hire to an artist whose signature and individual expression became a source of collectibility.

From An Artist Empowered:

Historically, art hasn’t been perceived as an act of independence or self-expression, either. The archetype for the ‘modern’ artist who is appreciated for his unique vision started to take shape about 500 years ago during the Renaissance (rebirth) in Italy, and most conspicuously under the patronage of the Medici: the ruling family of Florence.

Prior to this unique flowering of art and connoisseurship, artists didn’t create a ‘personal’ art that was for sale in galleries or auctioned off for large sums to avid collectors. Artists were cataloged as workers; and their art, rather than an artifact devoted solely to pure contemplation, served some utilitarian purpose.

Sensei

While there is continuing controversy over beauty and truth in art, it’s heartening to know that some artists have figured it out for themselves.

In his 1973 documentary Painters Painting, filmmaker Emile de Antonio interviewed many of the figures, including Barnett Newman, who, after the Second World War, had fueled the abstract expressionism movement in New York City.

Barnett: “Yes, because many years ago at a conference in Woodstock that was held with a panel consisting of philosophers—esthetes, really, professors of philosophy, professors of esthetics—and artists, I declared that even if they were right, and even if they could build a system, an esthetic system that they could claim explained the activity, the creative activity, it would be of no value, because esthetics for the artist was as meaningful as ornithology must be for the birds.”