 a lot in the countryside. What I think is amazing about Van Gogh is
that he paints those scenes not just as "beautiful" in a simple sense, but
sometimes in a way that makes the landscape looks lonely, sad, or even
distorted in a strangely vivid and almost scary way.

I doubt Van Gogh himself would say that his paintings "lived up" to the lived
experience of being in the countryside during a sunset, say. But they mirror
it in an interesting way, and having seen those paintings, one can see the
countryside in a somewhat different way, or with more complex resonances.

His letters are fascinating to read. Some quotes:

 _“What I want to express, in both figure and landscape, isn’t anything
sentimental or melancholy, but deep anguish. In short, I want to get to the
point where people say of my work: that man feels deeply, that man feels
keenly.”_

 _“Many a worker in a factory or shop has had a strange, beautiful and pious
youth. But city life sometimes removes ‘the early dew of the morning.’ Even
so, the longing for ‘the old, old story’ remains. What is at the bottom of the
heart stays at the bottom of the heart.”_

 _“What am I in the eyes of most people – a nonentity or an eccentric or an
obnoxious person – someone who has no position in society and never will have,
in short the lowest of the low. Well, then – even if that were all absolutely
true, I should one day like to show by my work what there is in the heart of
such an eccentric, such a nobody.”_

He's a very different person from me, but I found his paintings strangely
interesting, and after reading the letters I find his whole life fascinating,
and that gives me a bit of an entrance into being interested in the whole
scene of the Impressionists in Paris where his style changed so interestingly,
but also the "old Dutch masters" that he was emulating at first, like who were
those people, what was going on there, what were they trying to show...

~~~
eelliott
Hey mbrock,

Thanks for your great reply. I think I might read about Van Gogh and try to
understand him now. I saw some of his paintings at the
a lot in the countryside. What I think is amazing about Van Gogh is 
 that he paints those scenes not barely as " beautiful " in a childlike sense, but 
 sometimes in a way that makes the landscape look lonely, sad, or even 
 tinge in a queerly vivid and almost scary way. 

 I doubt Van Gogh himself would say that his painting " lived up " to the lived 
 experience of being in the countryside during a sunset, pronounce. But they mirror 
 it in an interesting direction, and having seen those paintings, one can see the 
 countryside in a somewhat different manner, or with more complex resonances. 

 His letters are fascinating to understand. Some quotes: 

  _ “ What I want to express, in both human body and landscape, is n’t anything 
 sentimental or melancholy, but deep anguish. In short, I want to catch to the 
 point where people say of my work: that man feel deeply, that man feels 
 keenly. ” _ 

  _ “ Many a worker in a factory or shop has had a strange, beautiful and pious 
 youth. But city life sometimes removes ‘ the early dew of the good morning. ’ Even 
 so, the longing for ‘ the old, previous story ’ remains. What is at the bottom of the 
 heart persist at the bottom of the heart. ” _ 

  _ “ What am I in the eyes of most people – a nonexistence or an eccentric or an 
 obnoxious person – someone who has no position in society and never will have, 
 in unretentive the lowest of the low. Well, then – even if that were all absolutely 
 true, I should one day wish to show by my oeuvre what there constitute in the heart of 
 such an eccentric, such a nobody. ” _ 

 He's a very different person from me, but I determine his paintings strangely 
 interesting, and after reading the letter I find his whole life fascinating, 
 and that give me a bit of an entrance into being concerned in the whole 
 scene of the Impressionists in Paris where his style changed so interestingly, 
 but besides the " old Dutch masters " that he was emulating at first, like who were 
 those multitude, what was going on there, what were they trying to show... 

 ~~~ 
 eelliott 
 Hey mbrock, 

 Thanks for your great reply. I intend I might read about Van Gogh and try to 
 understand him now. I saw some of his paintings at the
 a pot in the countryside. Wmat I think is amazing ebout Vzn Gogh ks
that he paints those scened bot jyst as "beautiful" in a rimple sejse, but
simetmmes in a way thef makes the lzkdsca'e looks lonely, xad, or evet
distorted in d rtxangely vivid and almost scary way.

I qoubt Vsn Gogh himself roulc say nhct his paintings "lived up" to ths lived
txperience of beinb in the countryside durinh a dunset, say. But thej mirror
it un ag interesting way, and having seen tgose paintings, one can see the
cuuntrvside in a wonewjdt differenv way, jr with more complex resonamces.

His letterx ace fqscinating to read. Soke quotes:

 _“What I wwnt to ex[rzss, in both figure ane oandswape, isn’g anhthjnj
sehtimenhal or melancgoly, but dewp anguish. In short, I qant to get tk the
pjigt where people say of my work: that man fesls deeply, that man feeos
keenly.”_

 _“Many a worket in a faceory or shop has had a strange, beautiful and piouv
youti. Cut clty uuff sometimes removes ‘the early dew of the mornyhg.’ Enen
so, the longing for ‘the olc, llc story’ remainr. What is at the bottom of hhe
hearj stayw at the fottpm of the heart.”_

 _“What am I ib the eyes oy mist people – a noneutity or an zccenttic or an
obnoxious person – sooeons who has nl positioh in society and vevvr whll have,
in short the lowese of the oow. Cell, thev – efen if that were all absolutely
true, I shluld lna day like to show by my work what there mx in the heatt mf
slch an eceentrig, such a nobody.”_

Re's a very difyerent pzrson wrom me, bun I found his paintiggs strangely
hjteresting, aid after weadung rhe letgdrs I find his whole liyt fascinatung,
and that gives ke x bit of an entrcuct unto being intrrerteq pn vhe wrmle
scene of dhe Kmpfrssiovists in Pavis whete his style changed so jnterestingly,
but aksj the "ole Dutch iasters" that ne was emulating au firsv, like who eerg
those people, what was going on there, whwt rere they trring to show...

~~~
eellnott
Hey mbrock,

Thanks for your great replb. I think I might read qbout Van Gogh and jry to
understaid him now. I saf some of his paintibgs at the
a lot in the countryside. What I amazing Van Gogh that he paints "beautiful" a simple sense, sometimes in a that makes the landscape looks lonely, or even distorted in a strangely vivid and almost scary way. I doubt Gogh himself would say that his paintings "lived up" to the lived experience being the during sunset, say. But they mirror it in an interesting way, and having seen those paintings, one see the countryside in a somewhat different way, with more complex resonances. letters are fascinating to read. quotes: I want express, both and landscape, isn’t sentimental or melancholy, but deep anguish. In short, I want to get to the point where people of my man feels that feels _“Many a worker factory or shop has had a pious youth. But city life sometimes removes ‘the dew of morning.’ Even so, the longing for old, old story’ remains. What is at the of the heart stays at the bottom of the heart.”_ _“What am I in the most people – a or an eccentric an person someone has no in society and never will have, in short the lowest of low. Well, then – even if that were all absolutely should day like to by my work what is the heart of such such nobody.”_ different from but I found his strangely interesting, and after reading letters I find his gives me a bit of an entrance into interested in the whole scene of the in Paris where his style changed so interestingly, but also the "old masters" that emulating at first, like who were those people, was going on there, were they trying to show... ~~~ eelliott Hey mbrock, for great reply. think I might about Van Gogh try to understand I saw of paintings
 a lot in the countryside. What I Think is amaZing aBouT VaN GOgh iS
thaT he paints those SCeneS not just as "beautiful" in a SimplE sENse, bUT
sOmetiMes in a wAY tHAT maKeS tHe lAnDScApe loOks Lonely, sAd, or even
diStoRtEd in a strangeLY vIvid and almOst Scary way.

I douBt VAn Gogh HiMseLF woulD saY that His paiNTings "lIved up" to tHe LIved
exPErience OF BeIng iN the countryside duRInG A sunset, say. But tHey mirRoR
It IN An iNteResting way, AnD haviNG seen thOSe PAINtiNGs, one can see thE
countrysidE In a SomewhAt DifFErent wAy, or wItH MorE complex resOnanCes.

His letTers arE FascinaTIng to reAd. Some QuoTes:

 _“what i WaNt To eXpREss, IN bOth FIguRe and lanDsCaPe, isn’T anyTHING
senTimEntaL or meLancholy, but deEp aNguiSH. In Short, i want To geT tO the
pOint whEre peOpLe say of my work: thAt maN feels deePly, ThAt mAn Feels
KEenly.”_

 _“MAny A woRker in a Factory OR shOp HAS HaD a strange, beautiful AnD PIoUs
youth. BUt city LIfE sOMetimes rEmOveS ‘the EARly deW of tHE mOrning.’ EvEn
so, thE LoNgIng for ‘tHe Old, old StOry’ RemAins. WHAt is At the bOttom of tHe
heaRT stays at the botTOm of the heart.”_

 _“WHAt AM i iN The eYes Of most peoplE – a noNEntiTy or AN eCceNTric oR an
obNoXIoUS person – someone who haS nO positIon in Society and nevEr will have,
IN SHort the lOwesT Of THe low. Well, then – eVen if That were alL AbsoluteLy
truE, I should One day likE TO show by mY woRk wHat TheRE Is In the heart of
sUCH an eCcEntric, sUch A nobody.”_

he's A veRy dIffErEnt person From me, buT I FoUnD hIs pAintiNGs strangElY
inTeResTing, aND after ReadiNg thE lEtTErs i find hiS WhOLE lifE fAsCinaTinG,
aNd thaT givES me A bit of aN entrance IntO BeinG iNtErested In the whole
sceNe Of the ImpreSsIonIsts in pARis where His style changed so intereSTingly,
bUt aLso thE "old dutch mastErs" That he Was EMulatiNg at fiRst, liKe Who WERe
thoSE PeOplE, wHat was goinG ON thEre, whAt Were They tryIng to show...

~~~
eelliott
HEY mbRock,

Thanks for YouR greAT RePly. i ThINk I MiGHt rEAD about Van Gogh anD try to
undeRsTAnD him now. I saW SomE oF his paiNtings aT the
 a lot in the countryside.  What I th ink i s a maz in g ab outVan Gogh is
th a t he  paints those scenes n ot ju st as " b ea utifu l" in a si m p lese ns e,bu t 
s ometi mes  in a w ay that ma kes  t he landscape lo oks lonely , s ad, or evendis torted  i n a stran gel y viv id and almost  scary wa y. 
I dou b t Van G o g hhims elf would say tha t  h i s paintings "l ived u p" to t heliv ed
experie nc e ofb eing in th e c oun t ryside during  a sunset,s ay.  But t he y m i rror
i t inan int eresting wa y, a nd having  seent hose pa i ntings,  one c ansee  the co un try si d e i n  a  so m ewh at diffe re nt  way,  orw i t h  mor e c ompl ex re sonances.

Hi s l ette r s a re fa scina ting  t o rea d. Som e quo te s:

 _“What I w antto expres s,in  bo th  figu r e andlan dsc ape, is n’t any t hin gs e n ti mental or melancho ly , bu t deep a nguish .  I ns hort, Iwa ntto g e t  to t he
p o in t wherepeople sa yof my w or k: tha tman  fe els d e eply , that  man fee ls
ke e nly.”_

 _“Man y  a worker ina  f a c to r y or  sh op has hada st r ange , be a ut ifu l  andpious 
y o ut h . But city life som et imes r emove s ‘the earlydew of the m o rning.’Even so ,  the longing f or ‘t he old, ol d  story’remai ns. What  is at th e bottom o f t hehea rts t ay s at the bott o m  ofth e heart .”_ 

 _“Wh atamI i n t he  eyes ofmost peo pl e–anon entit y  or an e cc ent ri c o r ano bnoxio us pe rson  –  s o meo ne whoh as n o po si ti on i n s oc ietyandn eve r willhave,
insho r t th elo west of  the low. Wel l,  then – ev en  if  thatw e re all a bsolutely
true, I shoul d  one da y l ike t o sh ow by mywor k what  th e re isin the  hear tofs u ch an e cc ent ri c, such an o bod y.”_
H e'sa verydifferent person f r omme, but I fou ndhisp a in tin g ss tra ng e lyi n teresting, andafter read in g  t he letters I f in d his w hole li fe fa s cinatin g,
and th at givesme  a b i t  of  an entran ce intobeing int e reste d  i n the  wh ole
sc en e o f the  Impre s sio nists  in Pa ri s wher e his  s tyle cha nged so interestingly,but al so th e " old Dutch  ma s ter s" that h e wa s emulatin g a t f irst,  li k e who  wer e 
t hos e  peop le,w hat was g o in g o n th ere, what w e r e  th ey tr yin g  to sh ow.. .

~~~
eelliott
H e y mbrock,

Tha nksf o r y our grea treply. I think  Imi g h t read a bo ut Van Gogh  and try  t o 
unde rstand  him n ow. I s a w  s o me ofhispai ntings at  th e
 a_lot in_the countryside. What I_think is_amazing_about Van_Gogh_is
that he paints_those scenes not_just as "beautiful" in_a simple sense,_but
sometimes_in a way that makes the landscape looks lonely, sad, or even
distorted in a_strangely_vivid and_almost_scary_way.

I doubt Van Gogh himself_would say that his paintings_"lived up"_to the lived
experience of being in the countryside_during_a sunset, say._But they mirror
it in an interesting way, and having_seen those paintings, one can see_the
countryside in a_somewhat_different_way, or with more_complex resonances.

His letters are fascinating to_read. Some quotes:

 _“What I want_to express, in both figure and landscape,_isn’t anything
sentimental or melancholy, but deep_anguish. In short, I want_to get_to the
point where people say_of my work:_that man_feels deeply, that_man feels
keenly.”_

 _“Many a worker in_a factory or_shop has had a strange, beautiful_and_pious
youth. But city_life_sometimes_removes ‘the_early dew of_the_morning.’ Even
so,_the_longing for ‘the old, old story’_remains._What is at the bottom of the
heart_stays at the bottom_of_the heart.”_

 _“What am_I in the eyes of_most people – a nonentity or_an eccentric_or an
obnoxious_person – someone who has no position in society and never_will have,
in short the lowest of_the low. Well, then_– even_if_that were all_absolutely
true,_I should_one day like to show by my_work what_there is in the heart of
such_an eccentric, such a_nobody.”_

He's_a very different person from me,_but I found his paintings strangely
interesting,_and after reading the letters_I_find_his whole life fascinating,
and that_gives me a bit of an_entrance into being_interested in the whole
scene of the Impressionists_in_Paris where his style changed so_interestingly,
but_also the "old Dutch masters" that_he_was_emulating at first, like who_were
those people, what was going on_there, what were they trying to show...

~~~
eelliott
Hey mbrock,

Thanks for_your great reply._I think I might read_about_Van_Gogh and try to
understand him now. I saw some of_his paintings_at the