Greetings Readers!
Here is the next volume of our series — The Wisdom of Art. This series invites us to pause from our busy lives to explore the wisdom of art and poetry.
Here is a painting, a poem, and a bit of prose…
1. Farmer Reading (Painting)
Vincent van Gogh (1853—1890) was a Dutch painter who was considered one of the greatest. His striking color, emphatic brushwork, and contoured forms powerfully influenced Expressionism in modern art. Van Gogh’s art became astoundingly popular after his death, especially in the late 20th century, when his work sold for record-breaking sums at auctions around the world and was featured in blockbuster touring exhibitions.
“What am I in the eyes of most people — a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person — somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then — even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart.”
— Vincent van Gogh, Letters
Contemplation Exercise:
Consider taking some uninterrupted time to contemplate the painting:
Notice what arises…
What can we learn about life…
