Van Gogh's Artistic Journey and Mental State

Arles and the Dream of an Artist Colony

Van Gogh, in Arles, harbored the dream of creating an artist colony. He renovated a house, expressing optimism in letters to his brother Theo about finding a peaceful place to work. The southern French sun brought him a sense of serenity as he hoped to establish an artist village. However, most artists declined his invitation. Gauguin, encouraged by Theo, eventually visited Van Gogh and stayed for several months. Their cohabitation has sparked discussions about a possible homosexual relationship, but historically, there's no concrete evidence. Their artistic differences often led to conflicts. Gauguin favored black outlines, flat brushstrokes, and symbolism with a strong mystical and existentialist bent, while Van Gogh rejected black outlines and flat brushstrokes, and his work rarely contained symbols. His painting style was primarily expressive and passionate, reflecting his emotions.

The Bedroom in Arles: A Reflection of Serenity

Van Gogh painted three versions of "The Bedroom in Arles" to show his brother the room he prepared for Gauguin. The brushstrokes in these paintings are more homogeneous, with straighter lines, reflecting Van Gogh's serene state while awaiting Gauguin's arrival. This contrasts sharply with the broken, radiating brushstrokes seen in his self-portraits during more turbulent times. The period of cohabitation, however, proved challenging.

The Downward Spiral: Depression and Self-Harm

After a major argument, Gauguin left Van Gogh, leading to a severe depressive episode. In an act of self-harm, Van Gogh cut off part of his ear and presented it to a woman who usually welcomed and comforted him, causing a scandal.

San Remo and the Starry Night

Another self-portrait from this period shows Van Gogh gaunt, unkempt, and suffering, a stark contrast to his earlier image in Paris. His depression deepened, leading to his admission to the San Remo mental asylum, where he created his famous piece, "The Starry Night."

The Starry Night: A Visual Representation of Inner Turmoil

"The Starry Night" is renowned for its sky, painted with fragmented, elongated brushstrokes forming waves and spirals. It is believed Van Gogh painted this from his experience in the mental asylum. This celestial depiction is likely a representation of Van Gogh's hallucinations and inner despair. Below, the town is depicted with geometric houses and a tall steeple, contrasting the irregular brushstrokes of the sky. A dark cypress tree on the left connects the sky and the town, symbolizing the link between heaven and earth.

Critics suggest that the two distinct styles in "The Starry Night" reflect Van Gogh's internal reflections. The chaotic, hallucinatory sky represents his tormented soul, while the orderly town represents the regularity he perceives in the external world. This reflects Van Gogh's sense of disconnect between himself and others, as if he sees himself as distraught while the others are balanced and orderly. The cypress tree may foreshadow death as a solution to his inner turmoil and the dichotomy between his internal and external worlds.

Auvers-sur-Oise and the Final Days

In 1890, Van Gogh moved to Auvers-sur-Oise and was treated by a doctor who encouraged him to produce numerous works. During this time, he created 80 paintings. One of his final works, "Wheatfield with Crows," measuring 103 cm (approximately $3.4 <br>ewline ft$ ), is considered his testament.

The Mystery of Van Gogh's Death

The circumstances surrounding Van Gogh's death are shrouded in mystery. Some believe he shot himself in the stomach and died days later from blood loss. However, more recent accounts suggest he may have been accidentally shot by boys playing with a gun in the wheat fields. He returned to his lodging, remained in his room for days, and eventually died from the injury, possibly by his own intention by refusing medical aid and thus choosing death.

Wheatfield with Crows: A Testament of Despair

Regardless of the exact circumstances, Van Gogh's choice not to seek help suggests a suicidal inclination, as his depressive crisis was resurfacing. In his letters to Theo, Van Gogh wrote about his overwhelming sadness and loneliness. The painting shows a vast yellow wheat field with three paths, the central one leading nowhere, symbolizing a depressive crisis with no apparent solution. The sky transitions from blue to black, indicating approaching ominous clouds and a sense of impending doom.

Interpretations of Wheatfield with Crows

Some critics believe the crows symbolize a coming crisis for Van Gogh, while others suggest they may be flying away, offering a glimmer of hope. Critic Sgarbi suggests even the dark sky above may only appear above the fields and be moving away from the patch of blue sky, representing this possibility of cure. The true interpretation remains elusive. After completing this work, Van Gogh allowed himself to die.

Those who argue against suicide point out that a self-inflicted gunshot would likely have been to the face or mouth, not the abdomen. Regardless of whether his death was accidental or intentional, Van Gogh's despair and lack of seeking help indicates a profound sense of hopelessness.