Tree Tuesday - I Couldn't Believe My Eyes! - Norton Simon Museum - Pasadena, California
Last week I had the chance to visit the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California. For the life of me, I cannot tell you why I had never been here before! Of course, I took an inordinate amount of pictures and will have a larger post coming but today, I am focusing on #treetuesday, an @old-guy-photos production.
I planned this trip on a whim, as I have been known to do. I had no idea what to expect but knew it was going to be an inspiring day. I started in the wing that featured 19th & 20th century art. Right off the bat, I saw it...I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES!!! It was my absolute favorite van Gogh painting!!! I was giddy and quite possibly embarrassing myself but frankly, I didn't care! I present to you, The Mulberry Tree...
It seems only right that I give you the information that was printed on the painting's label so you can get the full story.
Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853-1890)
The Mulberry Tree, October 1889
Painted at the asylum of Saint Paul-de-Mausole, Saint Rémy-de-Provence, France
Oil on canvas
Van Gogh suffered from delicate mental and physical health throughout his life. In the spring of 1889, following a series of nervous breakdowns, he committed himself to an asylum at Saint Rémy-de-Provence. There his work evolved away from the halluncinatory color of his Arles period toward the ever more vigorous brushwork and ever more liberally applied paint of his late manner. Here the flaming foliage of the mulberry tree, the rushing sky and hillside are so richly painted that the picture’s surface becomes a kind of bas-relief sculpture. Van Gogh was particularly pleased with this painting, remarking in letters to his siblings that he considered it his most successful treatment of its theme.
The next two shots are my attempt at giving you a better look at texture of this piece. Van Gogh's impasto style brushwork exudes energy and is what draws me to his work.
The Norton Simon houses European masterpieces from the Renaissance to the 20th century, 2,000 years of Asian art as well as modern works from U.S. and European artists. There is also a sculpture garden complete with a pond filled with water lilies...so lovely! If you are ever in the neighborhood give yourself a few hours here. You will be so happy you did!
All I can do is to admire the masterpiece and to think how the genius got no limits.
The close shots indeed are giving fantastic view of the texture.
There is something about van Gogh's work that speaks to me...it seems to vibrate. He is at another level than even other masters, in my opinion. He was so able to convey himself (mood/emotion) onto the canvas that makes his paintings come alive. Plus, know his story adds a whole other dimension to it too.
Thanks for stopping by, checking out my post and leaving a comment!
That is a very sweet find!
Thanks! I was in Amsterdam last fall and looked for it in the Van Gogh Museum but it was right in my backyard all along! :D