For the purpose of his art was to console people, to say ‘something consoling like music’.
And he found in Rembrandt the consolation he wished to offer others with his work.
Peter Hecht
Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt (Pg. 62, 65)
This is one of the most valuable epiphanies I’ve brought back from my Amsterdam trip in February 2023. Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is worth visiting although I have his complete painting collection books at home. Experiencing Van Gogh’s paintings in person was mind-blowing. I can feel the humility, the brightness, the darkness of his paintings first hand. Directly to be moved and comforted by his original paintings is irreplaceable by reproductions.
After noticing Van Gogh’s connection to Rembrandt in the exhibition, I bought this book in the museum bookshop to help me understand more about the artistic influences of Rembrandt on Van Gogh. The painting that most clearly exhibit Rembrandt’s traces is The Raising of Lazarus (after Rembrandt).
This painting was based on a print by Rembrandt (1606-1669) – but only part of the print. He left out Jesus Christ. The reason was Van Gogh thought himself unworthy to draw Jesus Christ. He was disturbed by his contemporary painter Paul Gauguin’s Christ On the Mount of Olives, where Gauguin draw Jesus Christ as self-portrait.
However, portraying himself as Lazarus was appropriate. He completed this painting within a fortnight, right after he recovered and left the asylum. This painting, therefore, recorded his own experience of raising from the dead (sickness).
Vincent would have given ten years of his life if only he could have sat before The Jewish bride (Isaac and Rebecca) for a fortnight, with a crust of dry bread for food.
Peter Hecht
Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt (Pg. 11)
I can totally understand how Van Gogh felt when he looked at this painting, no exaggeration at all. Good news, this painting is conveniently housed in the Rijksmuseum opposite to the Van Gogh Museum.
oil on canvas, h 121.5cm × w 166.5cm
To prevent being killed and having his wife captured by King Abimelech, Isaac concealed his love for Rebecca by pretending they were brother and sister. However, their intimacy betrayed them when they thought they were not being spied on. Rembrandt depicts them in a tender moment. Furthermore, he works with exceptional freedom, applies the paint thickly, and scratches into it with the butt end of his paintbrush.
Cited from: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-C-216
Van Gogh’s attitude to painting is a good reminder for me in my pursuit of music. My music skill is to serve the truth, the honesty, the naïve, the faithfulness, paint as one feels, not as one has learned. (Pg. 26-29)
He did not want an acquired skill, but truth. He needed his technique to enable him to say what he wanted, but it was not a goal in itself.
Peter Hecht
Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt (Pg. 29)
And what Van Gogh wanted to say with his paintings? To say something consoling like music!
When Van Gogh’s paintings want to say something consoling like music, I’ve found consolation in this song – Consolation in song. A song to encourage me to be courageous, keep travelling on the less travelled road and draw on the bright songs!
The traveller, bereft of both
Sunlight and moonlight,
Sings a song through the darkness
And grieves no more.
Confidently he steps out
Along the deserted road,
Yet many bright songs
Draw him on.
Consolation in song
Trost im Gesang
Justinus Kerner/ Robert Schumann
Full text and translation: https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/392
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