Where Madness And Brilliance Converge

Hey, fellow Steemians!

Most of the time, our posts are focused on countries and cities we’ve been to. We’d talk a little about history or our experiences and give some general travel advice, here and there. However, there are times when a story about one person is even more intriguing. This is the one we wanted to write about for quite some time.

So, where does the story begin? Well, somewhere in Europe in the 19th century. Our guy had so many things happen to him, though, that it would take 10 posts just to scratch the surface. With all that in mind, let’s fast-forward. This part of the story takes place somewhere in France. And since it’s France, the story could either be about food or art. Just kidding, but here’s a little clue for you - our protagonist was a painter.

At the time, he was about 35 years old and not as successful as he had hoped. Battling his disappointment he came upon an idea to start an art colony in southern France. He even managed to convince a fellow painter to help him. This was a man who was actually a big name in the business at the time. They hit it off initially but soon enough everything fell apart because our guy… Well, let’s just say he wasn’t easy to work with.

A series of heated arguments led to an end of their short-lived relationship and our hero’s mental breakdown. He ended up in a hospital with a mutilated ear (inflicted by himself). After the psychotic episodes continued, he retreated to an asylum of his own accord.

Can you guess who this story is about? Not yet? You’ll find out soon.

This is Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, a monastery turned to a mental hospital. It was a place that finally brought our guy some peace where he could recover and dedicate himself to painting.

It was also a place that inspired masterpieces. There’s a big chance you’ve already seen this one before.

The Starry Night. “Through the iron-barred window I can see an enclosed square of wheat… above which, in the morning, I watch the sun rise in all its glory.”

If you guessed Vincent van Gogh, you would’ve been correct. The quote above belongs to one of the letters he wrote to his brother Theo, during the time he spent in the asylum. You can find numerous facts about this painting. One of the most interesting ones is that Van Gogh didn’t consider this piece to be any good. Ironically, it’s now one of the most recognized paintings in the world.

The asylum can be visited today and you can even set foot in a replica of the room where van Gogh had spent his time in. If you’re into art, you probably know he painted a picture of it.

In fact, there are many corners and scenes that inspired him. Even for us who are not huge fans of art, it was interesting to compare real-life scenes to the paintings and how he saw the world in his eyes.

Sadly, a brilliant mind often touches the borderline of madness. Van Gogh was mentally unstable and it is believed his diagnosis included bipolar disorder and epilepsy. He didn’t live long after he left the asylum. About a year later, he shot himself in the chest and died soon after. His brother, the person who cared about him the most, was at the bedside when Vincent whispered his last words...

“The sadness will last forever.”