Soldier Blue

This is my last piece I did in Van Gogh Inspired class, Soldier Blue. It was from unknown black and white photo source. In my research I could not... more

by Sydne Archambault

Title

Soldier Blue

Artist

Sydne Archambault

Medium

Digital Art - Digital Art/painting

Description

This is my last piece I did in Van Gogh Inspired class, Soldier Blue. It was from unknown black and white photo source. In my research I could not detect for sure which war the young man was in, but I suspect World War One. He had such a wistful expression in his eyes, I was drawn into another time, another era of our countries history. It became somewhat of a memorial work for someone I never knew. The pages of time would not reveal his name nor if this was his last photo taken in his young life. Still I wondered if after the war he was reunited with his loved ones, I hoped so.

In the last chapters of Vincent Van Gogh's life, relationships with other artists, family and friends deteriorated. His erratic behavior from his mental illness landed him in mental institutions. Mystery shrouds the incident with Gauguin and Van Gogh as to how his ear or part of his was cut off. There is some thought it was Gauguin who was an expert swordsman in protecting himself from one of Van Gogh's acute psychotic episodes, sliced Van Gogh's ear. History however writes Van Gogh having gone completely mad cut of his ear and had it sent to Gauguin, because Gauguin was leaving Van Gogh' little yellow house, Cafe de la Gare. This was the nexus for Van Gogh's self mutilation.

Still with all of his struggles, and repeated admissions in mental hospitals he continued to paint. In his life time he painted 900 paintings and 1200 sketches. At age 37 Van Gogh is believed to have shot himself in the chest(although no gun was ever found). There were no witnesses and the location where he shot himself is unclear. The bullet was deflected by a rib bone and passed through his chest without doing damage to internal organs. He was able to walk back to the Auberge Ravoux and attended to by two physicians. Unfortunately the physicians could not remove the bullet, only a surgeon could. Vincent Van Gogh began to fail the next day due to infection caused by the wound. According to Theo his brother Vincent's last words were, "The sadness will last forever."

Today the saddest man in history, will always be remembered by his bright cheerful yellow sunflowers, dancing skies of colors and starry nights. Through his great gift and yes his tears, he left happiness for the world.

Uploaded

April 11th, 2015