Image by wallyg via Flickr

Paul: Let’s go.

Jean: We can’t.

Paul: Why not?

Jean: We’re waiting for Van Gogh!

That has been the story for the last two weeks as Musee d’Orsay rearranged their exhibits once again as part of their renovations. Van Gogh and Gauguin have been missing and we have been waiting. The museum information desk promised us they would be back last Tuesday. Alas, they were not. Therefore, the wait continued.

Today our waiting was rewarded with a stunning three rooms of Vincnt Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. It included some works we have not seen before and many old favorites. There is no question that Van Gogh has become my favorite painter. His final works in the last months of his life are particularly exquisite. If somehow his manic depression had been brought under control, would he have painted such masterpieces? It’s a difficult question. He had painted some beautiful works as well while in the asylym near Arles and, apparently, with his illness under control. We will never know what might have been. Follow this link to Musee d’Orsay’s web collection of Van Gogh images. They aren’t as good as the real thing, but hopefully gives you an idea of what we saw. It was worth waiting for Van Gogh.

I also discovered a Paul Gauguin painting that is unbelievable. It does not look like a typical Gauguin. A still life of flowers, painted with the most delicate stroke and palette. I was blown away by the painting. Here’s a link to an image of it that doesn’t do it justice, but is the best I can find: Nature Morte a la Mandoline

Paul

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