Monday 23 April 2012

Cuesmes, July 1880 Vincent Van Gogh wrote to Theo the famous thought of the bird in a cage


Paint by me, oil on canvas - Prisoner


"A caged bird in spring knows perfectly well that there is some way in which he should be able to serve. He is well aware that there is something to be done, but he is unable to do it. What is it? He cannot quite remember, but then he gets a vague inkling and he says to himself, “The others are building their nests and hatching their young and bringing them up,” and then he bangs his head against the bars of the cage. But the cage does not give way and the bird is maddened by pain. “What a idler,” says another bird passing by - what an idler. Yet the prisoner lives and does not die. There are no outward signs of what is going on inside him; he is doing well, he is quite cheerful in the sunshine.


But then the season of the great migration arrives, an attack of melancholy. He has everything he needs, say the children who tend him in his cage - but he looks out, at the heavy thundery sky, and in his heart of hearts he rebels against his fate. I am caged, I am caged and you say I need nothing, you idiots! I have everything I need, indeed! Oh! please give me the freedom to be a bird like other birds!


A kind of idler of a person resembles that kind of idler of a bird. And people are often unable to do anything, imprisoned as they are in I don't know what kind of terrible, terrible, oh such terrible cage.


I do know that there is a release, the belated release. A justly or unjustly ruined reputation, poverty, disastrous circumstances, misfortune, they all turn you into a prisoner. You cannot always tell what keeps you confined, what immures you, what seems to bury you, and yet you can feel those elusive bars, railings, walls. Is all this illusion, imagination? I don't think so. And then one asks: My God! will it be for long, will it be for ever, will it be for eternity?


Do you know what makes the prison disappear? Every deep, genuine affection. Being friends, being brothers, loving, that is what opens the prison, with supreme power, by some magic force. Without these one stays dead. But whenever affection is revived, there life revives. Moreover, the prison is sometimes called prejudice, misunderstanding, fatal ignorance of one thing or another, suspicion, false modesty".

At this time, Vincent was 27 year old

Vincent van Gogh. Letter to Theo van Gogh. Written July 1880 in Cuesmes.
Translated by Mrs. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, edited by Robert Harrison

There are many situations that make us prisoners, illness, loneliness, society today, injustice, indifference, racism, misunderstanding, censorship and so on ...

This painting is dedicated to all those people who are made ​​captive to one of these things. This work is dedicated to us all with much love.


Paint by me, oil on canvas - Prisoner



Paint by me, oil on canvas - Prisoner

Paint by me, oil on canvas - Prisoner

83 comments:

Clint said...

Excellent! Much to think about. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

as Clint stated, excellent! I love Van Gogh, I love his words you quoted...I love your painting! such feeling, emotion!

now I know why I don't want a bird in a cage...I'd rather watch them outside my window...where they're free!

(I totally dislike zoos because the creatures within are caged...no freedom. Better that they become extinct than be caged! At least they die FREE!)

Tito said...

Un dipinto che trovo struggente, accompagnato da un brano che più adatto non potevi trovare. Mi domando se è stato il brano di Van Gogh a ispirarti o se lo hai scelto dopo aver eseguito il dipinto. Un post molto bello e intenso. Complimenti Laura!

Marty said...

so many invisible cages in a life and sometimes it's not easy to find the key and freedom !
your painting is absolutely amazing Laura ! so moving, so so beautiful !
I really love it !
wish you a lovely free week !

Anonymous said...

Laura, what a gorgeous painting!!! Such beautiful colors~~~

Van Gogh...such a talent but what a troubled mind he had.

Hugs,
Jan

Anonymous said...

nice work.
Thanks.


my ear is bleeding...
Vincent

martinealison said...

Une très belle peinture pour illustrer le mal-être de ce grand artiste. Ne sommes-nous pas tous en cage ?... Nous artistes, nous avons la chance d'ouvrir la porte et de laisser aller sur la toile notre ressenti...
Gros bisous

Jean Spitzer said...

Top and bottom versions are my favorites--beautifully done.

Joop Zand said...

This is really amazing..... my compliments for this lovely work Laura.

greetings, Joop

Bitch said...

Vincent Van Gogh..
Who can ever understand the mind of these artists ?
We are too small to even think about!!

Kisses and hugs to you, for bringing his name up in this world!!!

Kuesschen von Monika

erin said...

and perhaps the cage is life itself, the human condition. how we all fly within our constraints.

incredibly beautiful, painful and important, laura. thank you for this)))

xo
erin

Cindy Ellison said...

Laura, thank you so much for sharing this! There is a very important message in this letter. Your painting is beautiful! This was a wonderful post! ♥

Elizabeth Anderson said...

Beautiful Laura. Colours vibrant, such a contrast to the lonliness. Hope you are well and you have lots of love that sets you free!

Antonio Machado said...

Olá Laura,
como sempre um bom trabalho

chiara said...

una schiena così è da brivido!!!

Adriano Maini said...

Amore per tutta l'umanità!

Denise SCARAMAI said...

Tu mi hai toccato con le tue parole, nell'ultimo paragrafo.
io mi enquadrei nella dedica con amore... perché ci sono giorni che sto molto turbata, sentendo veramente 'di una gabbia' ...

e la tua pittura è estupenda! bell, legger, perfett, e molto forte in emozione!
BRAVA Laura, mille baci.

Anonymous said...

I am a little blown away by this.. Laura!
You are so amazing :)
Big Hug

Unknown said...

Carissima Laura ,
per combinazione anch'io sto leggendo le 750e passa lettere di Van Gogh. Sono rimasto emozionato dal tuo post, veramente incredibile. La Tua sensibilita;' ha pochi paragoni, grazie per la dedica. Un'abbraccio
Mariano

Celeste Bergin said...

Very deep and conceptual. I like that you have so much to say

Aitor Artaitz said...

Very good text, thoughts. Excellent picture. One of the best I have seen. Thanks

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Clint and Cindy

I thank you so much my dear friends and I'm very happy that this paint is speacking to you both, this paint it's very near to me and the tought of Van Gogh too, we are all as Vincent...

thank you so much, it's nice for me too see you here

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

:-) Theanne yes I know too, thank you ma dear

Tito ti ringrazio tantissimo

Marty, Jan I thank you so much...

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Anonymous

Dear I know who you are... and this was especially for you...

take care and thank you so much

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

martinealison

you said a beautifull thing, yes it's true... to paint give us so much, but sometimes is as a prison too, sometimes I felt closed in my art and tought, I think that art in a way don't leave us to bee completely free, but it's true we have a great treasure because we have a great love and passion for what we do

thank you

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Jean Thank you very much :-)

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Joop and Monika thank you my dear friends so much, I'm glad that you like this

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Erin

thank you Erin so much

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Elizabeth Anderson

Elisabeth I'm really happy that you like this, for me is a great compliment that come out from you, I estimate you so much, thank you!

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Antonio, Chiara e Adrinano,
grazie mille cari amici :-) mi fa davvero piacere

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Denise

quello che dici ti rende ancora pu cara a me... sei sincera e tanto sensibile

grazie

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Eyeliquor

do not feel blown away ... is a feeling that denotes great sensitivity, thank you so much dear friend

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Mariano :-) ciao!

le lettere di van Gogh sono la mia bibbia.. lui inconsapevole con le sue lettere ha scritto uno dei piú srtuggenti libri mai scritti al mondo, le sue idee precursori di grandi movimenti, sia politici che pittorici, le sue paure, angosce il suo malessere il suo male di vivere...

lo adoro

grazie di cuore Mariano per le belle parole che mi dici

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Celeste

Thank you you are very nice to me

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Aitor Artaiz

glad that you like it, thank you so much

Victor Errington said...

Hi Laura.
Beautiful words, beautiful painting.
All the best.
Vic.

Willy. said...

Birds,nature,freedom....
Beautiful painting,Laura.
From the other side of the borders,Willy.

Gisizee said...

Dear Laura, this is such a beautiful painting - heartbreaking but also uplifting in a way. The words of Van Gogh are as true today as when he wrote them - hopefully our cages whatever they are will all be temporary - or maybe prove to be the sort of cage for which we ourselves already have the key, if only we are able and willing to use it. In its own way, paintings like yours are such a key!

Aleks said...

LOVE YOU LAURA for this and other loving,supporting moments,take care dear one! :)

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Victor, Willy
I thank you both so much it's nice to see you

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Gabriella you have such a kind words to me, and you are so right about Vincent, he's so actually...

thank you dear friend

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Aleksandra

I'm glad to have you better known, you give so much to us Aleks with your truely way to be

....

dianne said...

So beautiful dear Laura, the girl and the flowers, both captivating.
Love and greetings.
xoxoxo ♡

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

thank you Dianne

dianne said...

By the way, beautiful and profound words from Vincent van Gogh...
Have you seen the short documentary film which was was scripted from all of the letters which Vincent had written to his brother Theo? Its title is 'Painted with Words'. It is wonderful and worth watching.
xoxoxo ♡

Elvi said...

E' veramente splendido ed accompagnato ad un brano struggente. Elvi

James Owens said...

this painting frees me. how you offer the key ...

the light of such a beautiful morning breaks the cage ...

Apprendista Nocchiero said...

Vedo una persona prigioniera... Prigioniera della propria casa, dove le finestre appaiono come sbarre...
Prigioniera del proprio corpo, che ha cercato di denudare, per sentirsi più libera... Tentativo vano che la fa sentire ancora più prigioniera di un corpo che non la libera, le cui sbarre sono le costole e le ossa, la colonna vertebrale, come colonna portante della cella... La pelle fredda come pareti invalicabili...

Quella strana accoppiata di necessità: da un lato di estraniarsi, dall'altro di rinchiudersi in se stessi ancor di più, per non sentire il gelo dell'esterno...

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Dianne
thank you so much for this link, I have only the book of the letters.. I will looking for the documentary you said .. thank you my dear

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

grazie Elvira sei sempre molto gentile e mi fa piacere

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

James Owens

oh thank you this is a beautifull compliment, thanks

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Apprendista Nocchiero

ciao Nocchiero! che bello vederti mi si rallegra davvero il cuore :-)
grazie di tutto, sai interpretare molto bene come si confá ad un animo sensibile come il tuo


grazie...

Leovi said...

Maravillosa composición en colores y formas. Un óleo muy interesante. Saludos.

Leovi said...

Wonderful composition of colors and shapes. A very interesting oil. Greetings.

luigi bluoso said...

Ciao Laura, passo per un caro saluto e l'augurio di un bel fine settimana magari con un tempo buono. Luigi.

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Leovi

thank you, it's nice to see you :-)

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

grazie Luigi, qui oggi é una bellissima giornata dopo settimane di brutto...
spero che continui

anche a te un abbraccio e grazie ancora, mi fa tanto piacere vederti :-)

MBI said...

!!!!!!!!!!¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
Gracias!!!!!!!!!

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

MBI
:-)

Caio Fern said...

wonderful...
even better to see your work.
kiss.

Magia da Inês said...

.º°❤
°º✿ Olá, amiga!
Passei para uma visitinha.
Muito lindo... luz, textura e cores.
BOM FIM DE SEMANA!

¸.•°`
°º✿ Beijinhos.
º° ✿ ✿ Brasil

Daniel Casares Román said...

Una verdadera obra artística. Mi más sincera enhorabuena!

Momo Luna S!gnals said...

Very, very beautiful post dear Laura. Thank you so much for giving us your beautiful, comforting painting. Like everybody i know how it feels to be a prisoner. This post is such a sweet comfort.
Hugs and kisses i send your way......

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Caio

thank you so much you are a dear friend of mine, I'm glad that you exist

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Ines and Daniel

thank you too dear for comming

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Momo Luna

dear monica thanks for comming I knew that your sensibility can good understand this feeling

thanks again to ben here

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this painting,,for these words. Thanks for the lovely wishes for we all and for reminding me that freedom exists,,the freedom of spirit, a freedom that release us from the cruel chains of pain,,loneliness, disappointment. . .

Thank you, for having made me smile today, and made me resume the belief that there is a way to scape from our personal prisons, and fly away :)

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Alberto I'm really glad to hear this from you, and I'm glad about your smile,

thanks you are a dear friend

Bob Bushell said...

A beautiful painting, and a dialogue by the prisoner.

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Bob

Hi Bob, thanks so much :-)

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Good creations !

Jaime Baiao said...

I love your notes and painting!

lu.mangione said...

Grazie per averci ricordato queste bellissime strazianti parole - in effetti tutti noi abbiamo le nostre gabbie e dedicarci al lavoro artistico è anche un potente mezzo per togliere qualche sbarra - un abbraccio, lu.

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Wong, artebaiao, Luciana...
thanks so much

Dan Gliubizzi said...

Always love the paintings and the posts. I have been busy and not posting much, but I still follow you regularly

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

Dan,
thank you so much... I'm always not posting so much the last time, very busy, but it is nice to have this place to meet with friends like you

all the best to you dear Dan

Sébastien Haton said...

Well, everything you do is great ;-)
s.

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

seb haton

you are too good :-) thank you very much

Blanco said...

Greetings from Barcelona. Nice works. Nice colours. ¡¡¡ Nice flesh colour¡¡¡
If you like visit my works

maria luisa said...

Grazie per averci dedicato questo bel dipinto: sono giorni difficili per tanti di noi e il tuo dono con le parole che l'accompagnano, mi è davvero gradito. Un sorriso di speranza da Luisa

Lisa Graham said...

Moving. Beautiful. Sad. And moving again.

Your talent is so so huge.

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

grazie amici... thanks my dear friends

Mildred said...

So vibrant and so beautiful!
Enjoyed visiting you!
Thanks for sharing all your wonderful works of art!

***
Good night****

ps: Van Gogh is my favourite painter but there are so many to come;o)