van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam
On my way to Angola I was fortunate enough to have a layover in Amsterdam. I made my way to the van Gogh Museum first.
After starting this sentence over a dozen times, I realize there really isn't a way to explain how amazing seeing art in person is. The textures, the colors, seeing the impasto stand almost an inch off the canvas....just fantastic. Impasto is when paint is layered super thick building up the literal texture of the paint. It is impossible to see from a photograph. This is why van Gogh's paintings are only a fraction as impressive in books and reproductions as they are in person. He also painted wet on wet--meaning he didn't wait for the paint to dry before putting on another layer. Seeing the layers and vivid colors right next to each other was breathtaking. The decisive brush strokes and control he had to keep his oil paints from muddying (getting all mixed up and turning brown) is really incredible.
van Gogh's palette
There was one piece, I think called Overgrowth, that reminded me of Kudzu in Alabama. I'd never seen it before and in fact the museum store didn't have a post card of it either. Even though it is featured in the front of my museum guide it doesn't list it's name or give any information about it. (Which is why I felt justified in taking it's picture--totally not allowed!)
I wish so much that I could convey the textures and colors that pop off the canvas. Bright blues and purples right next to yellows and lime greens. Huge globs of paint that looked to be squeezed right out of the tube and laid down with wonderfully messy precision.
Although his paintings look quick and loose, he planned nearly every mark. There were scores of sketches and plans in books along with letters to his brother.
Left: Irises Right: Overgrowth
There were not only van Gogh pieces in his museum. There were artists that were his contemporaries as well as his influences. This was one of the most overwhelming sights with Monet, Degas, Pissarro, Manet and a Rodin sculpture (not necessarily in that order or pictured) in one room.
In addition to the amazing art, the barista gave me a "longa" espresso for free! (I must have looked really tired). There was a great balcony view of Amsterdam at the top of the museum.