By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Looking at the stunning works of Vincent Van Gogh on display at the Seoul Museum of Art it is hard to realize that the Dutch artist hardly received any acclaim during his short and tragic life.
Teio Meedendorp, a Van Gogh researcher and art historian, offered fresh insights into the Dutch painter's life and psyche. He was in Seoul last week, upon the invitation of the Embassy of Netherlands, to give lectures on Van Gogh to coincide with the ongoing ``Voyage Into the Myth" exhibition.
In an interview with The Korea Times, Meedendorp said part of Van Gogh's enduring attraction is his tragic life story, as well as his philosophy towards art. ``Van Gogh was one of the first artists who had a certain lack of talent in the beginning, and had to struggle a long way before making his art. He worked hard. He knew he couldn't make a realistic, photographic likeness, but he didn't bother. He knew expression was more powerful," he said.
Van Gogh's lack of recognition during his lifetime also adds to his mystique. Van Gogh decided to become an artist at the age of 27 in 1880. In the next ten years, he created over 900 works while struggling with mental illness and financial difficulties. In 1890, at the age of 37, he shot himself.
Meedendorp said people are so used to seeing Van Gogh's works today, that it may be hard for them to understand how the artist was received during his time. Towards the end of his life, Van Gogh was starting to gain recognition, but even he himself felt he didn't deserve the fame.