Van Gogh: Due sedie - la seggiola di Gauguin e di Vincent - il taglio dell’orecchio

My visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam introduced me, among other works, to a work that struck me. It is Paul Gauguin's Chair, which Van Gogh painted in the days immediately before and after the famous episode of the ear being cut off. The second, by Vincent, is held at the National Gallery in London. It's clear that they are two portraits: indeed, a portrait and a self-portrait. Gauguin's is elegant and refined, nocturnal, symbolist, with two books and a lit candle resting on the seat. Vincent's is humble and simple, peasant-like, with a pipe and a tobacco pouch, or a crumpled sheet of paper on top. I paused for a long time to reflect on what those two empty chairs could teach us, about comparing ourselves with others. This lesson was born. I hope you enjoy it. 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Paris and the Belle Époque 02:35 Van Gogh in Paris 04:24 The Yellow House 05:40 The relationship with the family 06:40 Gauguin and the Pont-Aven community (synthetism) 09:00 The guest room 09:50 Paris makes you sick (no one answers) 11:43 Gauguin and Theo (Vincent's letters) 13:42 The sunflowers 15:44 The excess of zeal 18:00 The crisis and The artist's room 20:24 The arrival of Gauguin (23/10-23/12-1888) 21:10 The cutting off of the ear 22:29 Gauguin paid by Theo 24:36 Vincent and the violence against himself 27:50 The two paintings and the inspiration from Dickens 29:15 Symbolic Death and Absence 29:37 Gauguin's Chair 33:45 Us and the Image of Others (from Outside) 34:40 Vincent's Chair 38:50 Jo's Sale 41:02 How were the chairs hung?