KULTURA / CULTURE
THE TRACKS OF VAN GOGH
His paintings aren’t merely scenes – they’re confessions painted in yellow, blue and orange, which were the col- ours that he converted into feelings. Every brushstroke carries within it the warmth of the sun and the restlessness of the soul. And it is in his home coun- try of the Netherlands that you can en- ter his world, one that pulsates between pain and beauty. Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 in the small town of Zundert in the south- ern Netherlands. This tranquil town is today home to Vincent van GoghHu- is, a museum that occupies the house of his birth and offers intimate insight into the artist’s beginnings. Adorning the walls are family photos, letters to his brother Theo and replicas of his ear-
ly works. Growing in the yard are flow- ers and trees that are reminiscent of the landscapes of his later paintings – sim- ple, yet full of life. This marks the per- fect starting point for any journey in the tracks of Van Gogh, as a place where you realise just how much his story is a deeply human one. The road from Zundert to Amsterdam leads through the heart of the Nether- lands, through landscapes that he loved and painted - flatlands, windmills and endless fields of sunflowers. And in Am- sterdam itself, the Van Gogh Museum represents a veritable temple dedicat- ed to this genius. One of the country’s most visited spots, the crowds none- theless vanish when you stand in front of his Sunflowers, Bedroom in Arles or
Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat - you find yourself all alone in front of the wondrous beauty of his works. The museum’s permanent exhibition is arranged to follow the path of his life: from the dark tones of his early years to the explosion of vibrant colour during his time in Arles and San-Rémy. A spe- cial section of the museum is dedicated to his letters to Theo – documents that reveal his profound thoughts on art, na- ture and human existence. Those scrib- bled statements are often as moving as his paintings. The museum also organ- ises occasional temporary exhibitions that link Van Gogh’s oeuvre to modern artists, showing how his spirit lives on in the world of contemporary art. For the complete Van Gogh experi- ence, head onwards to Nuenen, the town where this artist created some of his first significant works. It is home to the Van Gogh Village Museum, with a lane that runs by a church, an old farm and the farmhouse where he paint- ed The Potato Eaters. Each location ex- udes a sense of his presence, as though he’s still there, lingering somewhere be- tween the light and shadows. A trip through Van Gogh’s Netherlands isn’t merely an art tour – it’s an intro- spective experience. You will get a sense of all his fragility in Zundert, Nuenen and Amsterdam, but also his immense love for the world, nature and people. And when you leave the museums and observe the Dutch sky, it will appear to you exactly as he painted it: restless, but filled with light...
46 | Umetnost » Art
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