If you could own a single work of art from your favorite artist?

Waterlillies at Giverny by Monet

http://www.fulcrumgallery.com/Claude-Monet/Waterlillies-at-Giverny_662624.htm

A later portrait:

Yeah...things had gotten a little out of hand at that point.

I think the world of Vincent...and his work.

He never sold a painting...and ultimately, he died thinking he was a failure.

I wonder what he would have thought about the prices his painting go for now?

I liked the Don McLean song too -

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/donmclean/vincentstarrystarrynight.html


"Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)"

Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul

Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now

Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue

Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now

For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night

You took your life, as lovers often do
But I could've told you Vincent
This world was never meant for
One as beautiful as you

Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frame-less heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget

Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will

One of my favorite songs of all time, Ossobuco.

It captures a spirit...and says things that matter to me when thinking of Vincent.

The song is not just a tribute to the works the man created, but to the man himself...and as I mentioned up above, for me that is important.

Thanks for posting those inspired words. Think I will listen to it now.

Always think of Cav when I hear this.

I liked the song at the time it was hugely popular, but it has really stuck in my memory more than some others. I'm sort of a music oaf, can't carry a tune, like music for the sounds and am unaware of a lot of classical music complexities despite some 'learning' - but I can hear McLean in my brain when I read the words, and my brain settles down.

edit - I don't remember about Cav liking it, might ring a small bell.

Didn't say he liked it. It reminds me of him.

Ah, so.

This world was never meant for
One as beautiful as you

http://youtu.be/dipFMJckZOM Song with Van Goghs.

As predictable as this is, "Les Etoiles Du Nuit", also know as starry starry night. Obviously Van Gough, & to think his works of art remained on le salle de refusee, (the 'yard' of the refused), not sure about 'yard'.
When I traveled abroad, & after a month in Nantes, where I lived on a farm & was "studying abroad", anotherwards... Drinking underage,(according to the great U.S.A.), ha.
I then went to Paris for a week, & besides the statue of Nike, in le Louvre, I found myself in the most facinating musee I've ever come across. Le musee D'Orsay, which is the premier museum for Impressionism, & Expressionism. I found myself in tears as I stood close enough to "les etoiles du nuit", (starry night) that I could smell it. The most beautiful piece of art I've yet to see! Sincerely!!
Some believe that it's "overated", yet I TRUELY feel that it's underated, even as the most expensive painting in the world...<- I believe
http://www.blue.fr/vangogh/v10.jpg

Intriging, it reminds me of home. maybe a swamp, or possibly a bayou. At least that's what I feel when I look at it, from Florida by the way, good choice

Somewhat dark, yet, still beautiful. I don't know why, but it reminds me of M.C. Usher... with color of course, mixed with Dali.
Very insightful!

M.C. Esher*, whoops.

A man after my own Heart! Such a tragic biography, yet such beautiful work!! Van Gough, is undoubtably my favorite artist... As well, I presume

Nothing of Vincent Van Gogh is over-rated. In my opinion...the greatest artist ever.

Starry Night is superb...but the self-portraits (especially the one I posted) are beyond reason...and that bedroom scene is something for the ages.

Couldn't agree more brother

There is no such thing as the "greatest artist ever". Each one has a unique POV and skill set. Carravagio was different but none less than van Gogh or Theotocapulo or Wyeth or Rothko.
As Duke Ellington said
"They aint no best kind of music. Theys only good music or bad music"

Painting and sculpture's sorta the same.

I agree. Probably not.

But there most certainly is an "in my opinion, the greatest artist ever"...and that is what I said.

There are, FM, many, many painters and artists whom I loves. That is one of the reasons I spend so many hours in various museums and art galleries. I suspect everyone has a particular artist who just seems to be special.

In my case...it is Vincent.

I think if I had to be surrounded by the work of one artist - although I do love vivid color, like Vincent's, I'd have to say the calm coolness of A Wyeth would be my choice - and it's freaky that my son and I discovered Wyeth is my kid's favorite, too.

I think I remember a story you told about meeting him.