Praying with Vincent van Gogh
Why would you want to pray with someone who spent time in an asylum and committed suicide? Mostly known for his masterpieces, Vincent the eccentric artist, is also a follower of Christ, and once aspired to be a minister of the gospel. Influenced by St. Paul, and considered Thomas a Kemphis his mentor, Vincent’s biographical art is a compelling m Christian contemplative life metaphor. He wants his life to be seen in his art, and his cultivation of a contemplative life is a result of this. Praying with Vincent (he signs all his art Vincent- his Christian name) is praying with an icon. Vincent’s spiritual fervor and his view that art ought to be biographical brought him to the depths of his soul and this why Vincent van Gogh can guide us into the depths of our soul. Vincent’s reckless living is hardly what we could consider Christian living and yet, he never really abandoned his faith in God. His recklessness is in a way what made him a mystic and perhaps a martyr ( read the most recent bio on him ) “ Life must be lived in the depths” , as Vincent would say, looking at his biographical art, find out how your contemplative life is like your master piece breathe and inspired by our Master Painter.
Monday, November 25, 13
Starry Night, 1889, Saint Remy “ I once saw a beautiful picture: it was a landscape, in the evening. Far in the distance, on the right, hills, blue in the evening mist. Above the hills, a glorious sunset, with the grey clouds edged with silver and gold and purple. The landscape is flatland or heath, covered with grass; the grass-stalks are yellow because it was autumn. A road crosses the landscape, leading to a high mountain far, far away; on the summit of the mountain, a city, lit by the glow of the setting sun. Along the road goes a pilgrim, his staff in his hand. He has been on his way for a very long time and is very tired. And then he encounters a woman, or a figure in black, reminiscent of St. Paul’s phrase: ‘in sorrow, yet ever joyful’, This angel of God has been stationed there to keep up the spirits of pilgrims and answer their questions. And the pilgrim asks: ‘Does the road wind uphill all the way?’ To which comes the reply: ‘Yes, to the very end.’ And he asks another question: ‘Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?’ And the reply is: ‘From morn to night, my friend.’ And the pilgrim goes on, in sorrow, yet ever joyful.” - Excerpt of Vincent van Gogh’s first sermon he preached, October, 1876, at Isleworth. Monday, November 25, 13
Two Lovers, Arles, 1888
Vincent van Gogh expressed his soul and world view allegorically- “in other speech”- We can argue that his rejection from his religious denomination to be a pastor turned him to be a painter instead and yet, a persistent view of himself as a minister like St. Paul, St. Francis or Thomas a Kemphis made its way to his art- his allegory. - What do you express allegorically that is a direct reaction to a rejection, or a failed dream or ambition, or your mission/ministry that wont die but had to or can only live allegorically? Consider Van Gogh’s embodiment of work and yours, what would the embodiment of your work look like?
Monday, November 25, 13
The Potatoe Eaters 1885
Vincent van Gogh considered The Potatoe Eaters his greatest work. Why do you think he consider this his greatest? “ Paintings needed to be created ‘with willpower, feeling, passion and love’ and not with the hair-splitting subtleties ‘ of these experts who are acting more important than ever nowadays, using the word ‘ technique’ that is so often practically meaningless.” Art could meet the world it served in sensitivity towards the simple and of course positive life of the underpriviledged. The technology of the machine age and the technique of academic rules were both aimed at destroying that way of life ( . . .) “ instead of saying: a man digging must have character, I prefer to express it in a different way, saying: this peasant must be a peasant, this man digging must be digging ( . . . ) Everyday drudgery had left its mark on the faces of these people. ( . . . ) a painting conceived in the modern spirit had to highlight these facts if it was to give a characteristic account of the times. It had to be ugly, coarse, authentic ( . . .) - from Letter 418 - Our image-saturated milieu, the avant garde could be anybody, the technology is the avant garde. - How do you think this influence your spirituality? If what Vincent said about what the academia and technology is doing is the same for us today, would you say it’s true for us as well today? Why?
Monday, November 25, 13
Old Man in Sorrow ( On the Threshold of Eternity), 1890
In his first sermon at Isleworth, , “in sorrow yet ever joyful” was his text, a scripture he learned from St. Paul. Illustrations, allegories and symbols from his first sermon can be seen- to a keen observer- in all of his works.Vincent van Gogh anguished praying for the people and in this piece “Eternity”, - Can you see Kemphis’ or St. Paul’s influence? - What prayers are being evoked in you on a personal level?
Monday, November 25, 13
A Pair of Shoes, 1886
“ And now, when each one of us returns to everyday life, to everyday duties, let us not forget that things are not what they seem to be, that God is using the things of everyday life to instruct us in higher things, that our life is a pilgrimage and we are strangers on this earth, but also that we have a God, a Father, who offers shelter and protection to strangers.” - Vincent van Gogh from his first sermon at Isleworth. Look at your everyday life and everyday duties, what do you see in them? If the same attentiveness (contemplative-ness) is practiced when you do your laundry, clean the youth room- everyday duties- as when you do your spiritual practices what do you think God will show you? “ Find God where you are, where you are God is.” - a monastic spirituality worldview. Monday, November 25, 13
Noon: Rest from Work, 1890, St. Remy
This painting “ Noon: Rest from Work” evokes an image of an obsolete practice today. What would taking sacred pauses ( laying down your tools) during the day would like for where you are at in your current situation. What is the rhythm of your life, work? Do you respect time and what time calls for? Consider prayer practices in stopping the non-stop and free you from your attraction to distraction. Prayer practices like “ Praying with art, Prayer of Examen, Centering Prayer, breath prayer and apophatic prayer practices. These practices cultivates the contemplative life in finding God in everyday living as well big spiritual or religious moments. The practice of praying the Divine Office- lauds, mid-day prayer, vesper and compline prayer are prayer times to stop us and to take a step back- to retreat- and perhaps touch the hem of the divine in us. What certain prayer practices would you teach your youth in taking sacred pauses during the day at home and school? Monday, November 25, 13
Vincent’s Bedroom, Arles, 1888
Monday, November 25, 13