Van Gogh Blog » Van Gogh in Today’s Culture

The Legacy of Van Gogh

Sonya — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:20:33 +0000

On the anniversary of his death, we remember Vincent van Gogh and the impact that he has had on the world. From giving us a wealth of masterpieces like his sunflowers, irises and wheat field paintings, not to mention Starry Night, to shaping the world of art, Van Gogh’s impression is a lasting one. Little did the artist who only sold one painting during his lifetime know that he would go on to inspire countless other artists, to be immortalized in hit songs and have his life story made into numerous films. Continuing to create works of great beauty even when it may have seemed that few were interested in seeing them took passion, courage and dedication. Although often inspired by other painters, Van Gogh was more interested in capturing the world around him as he saw it. In a letter to his brother Theo from July 21, 1882, Vincent wrote,

“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.”

In addition to depicting his world in paintings and drawings, yet another reason that so many feel connected to Van Gogh today is in the pictures he painted with words. The hundreds of letters Van Gogh wrote that have been preserved act as a window into the life of an artist and a period in history when art was changing dramatically. His letters not only catalog the day to day, but are also filled with poignant passages on life. Knowing his story though his words gives even more meaning to the work that he created, his development as an artist, and who he was as a person. Vincent van Gogh remains one of the most recognized artists in history and undoubtedly his legacy will continue to inspire generations for years to come.

Letters Source:
http://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/11/218.htm

Vincent Opera Premiere

Sonya — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:14:24 +0000

Today marks the opening of the world premiere of a new opera based on the life of Van Gogh. The opera Vincent, written by Pulitzer-Prize winning composer Bernard Rands and Librettist J.D. McClatchy, will be performed at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. The opera runs April 8, 9, 15 and 16, but if you are not in the local area in time to catch one of these shows, you can watch streaming video of the opera live April 8th and 9th at 8pm EST. Get more information, including a video interview with the cast and photos from the opera production, here: IU Opera.

Van Gogh Android App Brings Great Art to Your Phone

Sonya — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:26:25 +0000

Technology is advancing the ways in which we can access great art. The Google Art Project which debuted in the last month, for example, gives viewers an inside and up close look at museums and artwork from around the world. Just yesterday, the Van Gogh Gallery announced the launch of our new Android App. With advancing technology and the expertise of a custom Android application development team at Unidev, the Van Gogh Gallery launched a mobile application that gives users the ability to access Van Gogh’s work and information about his life directly from their cell phones.

The Van Gogh Gallery Android App contains over 800 images of Van Gogh’s paintings that users can easily scroll through as thumbnails, see an expanded gallery view containing more information about the work or set their favorite painting as Van Gogh Wallpaper on their phone. The App also contains biographical information and quick facts on Van Gogh. Available as a free download, the new App is a great way to experience the world of Van Gogh on the go!

View more details and screenshots of the Van Gogh Gallery Android App or Download the Van Gogh Android App now!

Pop Culture Van Gogh

Sonya — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:18:17 +0000

As one of the most famous artists of all time with such iconic works to his name like Starry Night and Sunflowers, it is not surprising that Vincent van Gogh is a common influence on pop culture. With parodies of Starry Night including characters from Hello Kitty to Darth Vader, the recent inclusion of Van Gogh in the BBC Doctor Who series, and countless other references to Van Gogh and his masterpieces, the artists and his works are continually ingrained in our modern culture. So for a fun and fresh look at some of the ways Van Gogh is inspiring creativity, here are some of our favorite examples of Van Gogh in pop culture:

Do you know of a great example of Van Gogh in pop culture? Comment and share it with us!

Virtual Van Gogh

Sonya — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:43:55 +0000

Van Gogh’s paintings can be seen in museums and galleries all over the world, and while there really is no comparison for seeing his brushstrokes up close and in person, it is amazing how many excellent virtual Van Gogh displays exist online. Virtual tours have improved over the years now offering the viewer an ever greater perspective of the object and its surroundings. In this virtual tour of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, you can see many of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and the works hanging alongside of them all from the comfort of your computer. If you prefer to travel online to Paris a virtual tour of the Musee d’Orsay will take you the Van Gogh collection there.

If you would rather avoid the sometimes dizzying effects of the virtual tour, check out some of the interactive exhibitions online such as the “Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night” exhibition which took place a couple of years ago at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, but continues to display online. There are also a selection of videos on Van Gogh’s works and research on the Van Gogh channel on Art Babble. So if you want to experience the works of Van Gogh, but can’t make it to the museum, a Van Gogh tour may just be a click away.