Table of contents:
Video: What connects Van Gogh's Cafe and the biblical plot of the Last Supper
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
As a rule, in art people see what they are ready to see, what they are full of internally and what state they are striving for. So the painting "Cafe Terrace at Night" is an imperceptible guide to God: will people see only the landscape on it or will they notice the theme of the Last Supper?
Vincent Van Gogh, the wizard of the blue and yellow palette, perfectly reflected his main qualities of a painter in this mesmerizing picture.
Writing history
It was written in Arles in 1888, during the period of Van Gogh's special joyful spirituality. He just arrived in this city, rented a beautiful house for himself and carefully furnished its interior with his paintings. The house in Arles was for him a place of peace and inspiration, which contributed to the creation of great creations. Spiritual joy manifested itself in his work by the significant use of yellow paint. It is likely that climatic conditions also affected: this city is famous for its rich sunshine. The painting depicts the terrace of a cafe on the Forum Square in Arles, which to this day pleases visitors, but under the new name "Cafe Van Gogh".
Cafe Terrace at Night is one of three paintings by Van Gogh depicting his favorite starry sky. Starry Night over the Rhone and Starry Night complete the trilogy of films.
Van Gogh's palette
"The night is much more lively and richer in colors than the day" - said Van Gogh. Continuing the theme of Van Gogh's color palette, you can see that Vincent's night does not have a single black brushstroke. If you take a closer look, the audience will see - the picture of the night is full of blue, yellow, red shades and there is not a single smear of black paint. And what about the stars? Stars are one of Van Gogh's favorite motives. With his painting, he describes the famous expression of his colleague Henri Matisse: "Flowers are the stars of the earth." Here is Van Gogh - picturesque flower stars in the sky.
What connects Van Gogh's Cafe and the plot of the Last Supper?
An interesting theory put forward by researcher Jared Baxter that this painting by Baxter reflects a motive from the Last Supper. It is quite possible to agree with him. What elements on the canvas prove this theory?
- firstly, the very number of visitors to the cafe is equal to the number of heroes of the Supper (Christ by the 12 apostles, including Judas). In the middle is a waiter with long hair and a white robe, reminiscent of Christ. Around him are twelve visitors to the cafe, according to the number of the apostles, and one of them is standing in the doorway. A shadow covered his figure (as opposed to the lightened figure of Christ). It is easy to guess that this is Judas.
-secondly, right behind the back of the waiter (who is a type of Christ) there is a window frame in the form of a Christian cross.
- thirdly, the motive used is a reference to the biography of the artist himself. Before devoting himself to painting, the famous Dutch artist wanted to “preach the gospel everywhere”. He even managed to work for some time as an assistant pastor, read the Scriptures to the illiterate and preach, while studying with his theologian uncle. However, his fate turned out differently and he did not manage to become a priest. It was during the period of this painting that Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo that he had a "great need for religion." It is likely that the artist's unrealizable desire to be closer to God manifested itself on his canvas in the form of a hidden biblical motive.
- fourthly, as you know, the motive of the Last Supper is associated with the Eucharist (consecration and acceptance of bread and wine). Christ serves food to his apostles, just as a waiter serves food to his visitors.
- and the last: the central figure of the waiter (Christ) is illuminated by a bright glow from the lantern, which hangs just above his head.
Indeed, all these evidential arguments serve as the basis for the inclusion of the biblical motive of the Last Supper in the plot of the painting by Vincent van Gogh. She is bewitching, attractive. It is not for nothing that the Terrace Cafe at Night ranks second in the world in the list of the ten most reproduced and copied paintings from 2000 to 2010.
Recommended:
How a nun became the first artist of the Renaissance and wrote her "Last Supper": Plavtilla Nelly
The history of modern art knows many talented artists, but it may seem that in the old days women did not take brushes and paints in their hands. However, back in the mid-16th century, the convent of Santa Caterina di Cafaggio in the heart of Italy was a real school of religious painting. And its abbess and the first famous artist of the Renaissance Plavtilla Nelly created her grandiose "Last Supper", lost many years ago and regained today
The epidemic of "elders" and gurus in pre-revolutionary Russia, or what connects Rasputin, Tolstoy and Blavatsky
From the materials that have been published since the early nineties, it seems that before the revolution, Russians lived exclusively by religion. The more incomprehensible is the phenomenon of Grigory Rasputin: how could the royal couple be led by an obvious sectarian, a mystical guru? But in fact, mysticism and esotericism in pre-revolutionary Russia was at the forefront of fashion, and Rasputin was, as they would say now, in a trend
Last Supper and other ghost sculptures by Albert Szukalski
Albert Szukalski, a Belgian sculptor of Polish origin, died in 2000, but managed to leave behind a creative legacy, thanks to which his name is still remembered by those who managed to visit the American ghost town of Rhyolite. Established during the Gold Rush and deserted in 1920, this city has less than 15 years of living history. But by the forces of modern sculptors, it has turned into a landmark called Goldwell Op
The Tower of Babel by Bruegel the Elder: Hidden Symbols and Political Satire Encrypted in the Biblical Plot
Among all the works of world fine art, the painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder "The Tower of Babel" occupies a special place. Political satire, anti-Catholic position - the artist encrypted many symbols in a painting on a popular biblical theme
"The Last Supper" of salt and more Wonders of the Wieliczka Salt Cave (Poland)
If we had a chance to live five centuries ago, then we would hardly have had a chance to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The thing is that in the 15th century only privileged persons could get into this mysterious dungeon with the personal permission of the king. Now, of course, everything has changed, and anyone can go down into the Polish mine, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And there is something to see