How Van Gogh Painted Symphonies in Colour

Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings are some of the most recognisable in the history of art. They have, naturally, been analysed extensively but very few people have mentioned how his work relates to music. This is particularly surprising given how much he references music in his letters. He talks about symphonies in colour, compares his work to composers and regularly mentions the music of Richard Wagner, a composer who had reached celebrity status as a modernist and visionary in the 19th century. In this essay, I look at the ways music influenced Van Gogh’s work and life, and how we can think about his paintings differently by looking through the lens of music. ▶ Support my channel: ▶ Subscribe: ____________________ ▶ Website: ▶ Twitter: FURTHER READING/RESEARCH The letters - Vincent van Gogh (facsimiles, translations etc...): Van Gogh and Music: A Symphony in Blue and Yellow: =sr_1_1?keywords=van gogh and music&qid=1570952382&sr=8-1 MUSIC John Adams - Common tones in simple time: Unsuk Chin - Violin Concerto (Mouvement lll): Clint Mansell - “Five Sunflowers In A Vase“ (Loving Vincent OST): Einojuhani Rautavaara - Symphony No. 6, “Vincentiana“: I. Starry Night: Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 5 in D Major: IV. Passacaglia