#5 Myths, folklore and facts... Vincent van Gogh




The influx of European culture on Japan is immerse, not surprisingly, the modernization of Japan enforced changes, enforced borrowings from other nations. There was not only art, but, these were factors of aesthetic values, as well. 

Vincent van Gogh is a painter whose works are worldwide known, the perception of it in Japan has got a slightly different angle than in Europe. His works were not only a manifesto of expressionism and bravery, it became a trade tool, an exchange tool between Japan and the Netherlands. The works are perceived by means of cultural changes, the aesthetic movements and its complexity of notion not everyone understands. 

Van Gogh himself acclaimed that Japan is his place to be, he loved this country and wanted to pay back for hospitality by painting, by foreseeing future. He gave Japan what they wanted – masterpieces, an intellectual puzzle. Looking at van Gogh’s paintings one has to uncover the riddle. It is indeed, exceptional, it is what Japanese people love so much. In Japan there is so-called van Gogh’s literature, this particular branch was created by intellectual group of people. Their sophistication brought van Gogh’s works to life. 

Conceptualization of art and its notion fascinated Japan, the concept of notion is changed,  the stiff European frame is shaken off in Japan, it all becomes more expressionistic. The symbolism in art is important, the dots, the smears, the unfinished lines, it all creates the painting, the message one has to read to convey the meaning. 

Another factor is van Gogh’s mental state, his “impressionistic”, “insane” mind which created something no one else could have done with a meticulous precision, he like a surgeon (who cuts with a lancet), paints the images in his mind, distracts it to force the receiver to find out the essence of the matter. Regardless of what was said or written about van Gogh – his imagination was fantastic. 

The health crisis did not, however, deteriorate the notion and quality of van Gogh’s works. Van Gogh’s oriental particles portray uncommon mixture of Realism and Impressionism. Van Gogh’s works are filled with goodness, his charity work, his candid spirit overwhelms his paintings, which put ones mind at ease. 

Even though he wanted and was engaged in charitable movements and social help, he always wanted to stay away from people, yes, sadly, but true, van Gogh was a solitary man, a man of great ideas, secluded in his ‘tiny world’ of unlimited visualization.

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