Van Gogh – Davydiuk Dance Company

 

 

1. Vincent van Gogh: Biography

• Early Life: Born on March 30, 1853, in the Netherlands. Grew up in a religious family; father was a pastor.
• Career Start: Worked in art dealing and as a preacher before pursuing art seriously at age 27.
• Artistic Development: He was largely self-taught but spent time in Paris, where he encountered Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists.
• Death: Van Gogh created over 2,000 artworks in 10 years. He died in 1890 at 37, possibly from suicide, though there is debate about the circumstances.

2. Selected Paintings and Brief Descriptions

1. Starry Night (1889) – Swirling night sky over Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. One of his most famous pieces, reflecting his inner turmoil and fascination with nature.
2. Sunflowers (1888) – A series of bright, vibrant paintings of sunflowers, symbolizing friendship and the cycle of life.
3. The Bedroom (1888) – Depicts Van Gogh’s simple bedroom in Arles, symbolizing his longing for stability and peace.
4. The Potato Eaters (1885) – A dark, realist portrayal of peasant life in the Netherlands, showing Van Gogh’s early style.
5. Wheatfield with Crows (1890) – One of his last works, a moody, intense depiction of a wheat field under a stormy sky.
6. Irises (1889) – A vibrant painting of flowers in the garden of the asylum at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
7. Almond Blossoms (1890) – A delicate image symbolizing new life, created in honor of his nephew’s birth.
8. Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889) – A haunting self-portrait after Van Gogh cut off part of his ear, symbolizing his mental struggles.
9. Café Terrace at Night (1888) – A bright, lively nighttime scene of a café in Arles, notable for its use of color and light.
10. The Night Café (1888) – Depicts the interior of a café in Arles, with distorted perspective and intense color, symbolizing loneliness and alienation.

3. Van Gogh’s Mental Illness and Hospitalization

• Mental Health Struggles: Van Gogh experienced depression, hallucinations, and episodes of mania throughout his life.
• Hospitalization: After the ear-cutting incident in 1888, Van Gogh was hospitalized multiple times. He voluntarily entered the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in 1889.
• Art During Illness: Many of his masterpieces, including Starry Night, were painted while he was hospitalized. His mental health fluctuated, impacting his art, with both tranquil and turbulent pieces emerging during these periods.

4. Political Environment and Country

• France in the Late 19th Century: Van Gogh lived in France during the Third Republic (1870-1940), a period of political instability, economic growth, and a flourishing art scene in Paris. Impressionism and Post-Impressionism were reshaping the art world.
• Art Movements: Van Gogh was influenced by contemporary movements such as Impressionism but developed his own distinct Post-Impressionist style that was bold in color and emotion.
• Colonial Context: France was a colonial power at this time, with expanding empire interests, though Van Gogh’s works focused on local life and nature rather than political or colonial themes.

5. Demography Van Gogh Lived In

• Rural Life: Much of Van Gogh’s life was spent in small towns and rural areas, such as in the Netherlands and southern France (e.g., Arles). He often depicted ordinary people, laborers, and the working class.
• Arles and Provence: In the south of France, where he spent a significant part of his later life, he was drawn to the colors and landscape, capturing scenes of the countryside and village life.
• The Art Community in Paris: While in Paris, Van Gogh interacted with other artists like Gauguin, Pissarro, and Toulouse-Lautrec. The city was a hub for modern art and intellectual discussions, though Van Gogh often felt alienated.

This curriculum is structured to give students a balanced understanding of Van Gogh’s artistry, personal struggles, and the world he lived in, creating a holistic view of his life and work.

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Scene 1: Prologue – The Opening

The stage opens in a symbolic space, not tied to any specific location, but reflecting the state of Van Gogh’s mind. Fire, as a metaphor for destruction and hope, highlights the contrast between rejection and potential rebirth. The scene ends in darkness, foreshadowing the difficult journey the artist will endure throughout his life.

 

Scene 2: The Street – Journey and Rejection

The scene begins with a simple, austere depiction of a street filled with everyday life. Young Van Gogh is shown wandering through the cities of his life: Zundert, The Hague, London, and Paris.

The stage is dominated by gray tones, symbolizing the monotony and coldness of daily existence that gradually overwhelm him. At first, Van Gogh tries to fit in—following crowds and attempting to blend into the community. Over time, people begin to distance themselves from him. Symbolic imagery portrays the increasing solitude that seeps into his life.

The lack of artistic embellishment in this scene underscores the harsh reality and struggles Van Gogh faced—a man longing to belong but always remaining on the margins. It is a story of alienation that shaped his future.

 

Scene 3: Vision – Light in the Tunnel

Loneliness drives Van Gogh to search for light—not only metaphorical but also literal. Fascinated by astronomy, he begins to imagine the world as an infinite cosmos.

The scene visualizes his mind, filled with colors, stars, and motion. It is a moment of immersion in limitless imagination and the galactic expanse that inspires his art.

 

Scene 4: Addictions – Images of Women

Three forms of Van Gogh’s addictions are depicted on screen: nicotine, alcohol, and women. Women appear in his life as objects of fascination but remain unattainable ideals.

The scene explores his relationships with women—not as partners, but as muses he admires yet cannot reach.

 

Scene 5: Duet – Love and Rejection

Van Gogh’s passionate relationships with women lead to heartbreak. The scene shows his love for Sien Hoornik, a prostitute with whom he attempted to create a family, and Margot Begemann, who was willing to commit suicide for him.

However, Van Gogh struggles to reciprocate their feelings in a way that builds lasting connections.

 

Scene 6: First Vision – Journey Through Past and Future

In a monologue, Van Gogh experiences flashbacks of his failed relationships and visions of the future. The audience witnesses his battle with inner demons.

Scene 7: France – The Euphoria of Color

Van Gogh moves to France, discovering the beauty of Arles’ countryside. The stage comes alive with vibrant streets, colorful cafés, and cheerful dances.

This marks a moment of artistic euphoria as Van Gogh paints some of his most iconic works, including The Café Terrace at Night and The Bedroom in Arles. However, beneath the facade of joy, anxiety continues to simmer.

 

Scene 8: Second Vision – The Harmony of Colors

Van Gogh finds meaning in his existence through painting. This scene delves into his exploration of color—juxtaposing shades to express his inner emotions.

Though fulfilled as an artist, his mental state continues to deteriorate.

 

Scene 9: Vision of the Past – Meeting Ghosts

Figures from Van Gogh’s past appear on stage—a man and a woman who played crucial roles in his life. A symbolic dance unfolds in Van Gogh’s mind, merging the past and the present, with the artist himself taking part.

 

Scene 10: Sunflowers – The Cycle of Life

A symbolic representation of the cycle of life—from seeds to full bloom. The image of sunflowers, a recurring motif in Van Gogh’s work, becomes a metaphor for his artistic journey.

The scene, filled with vibrant colors, gradually shifts to darkness, foreshadowing an impending crisis.

 

Scene 11: The Ear – The Fall

On-screen, flowers lose their petals, symbolizing Van Gogh’s gradual self-destruction. In a moment of desperation, driven by inner voices and a psychological breakdown, Van Gogh cuts off part of his ear. This marks the climax of his suffering.

 

Scene 12: The Asylum – The Final Chapter

Van Gogh is confined to the psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy. The walls symbolize his entrapment as visions and reality intertwine.

Although he continues to paint, his mental state steadily declines.

 

Scene 13: Crows – Farewell

In his final moments, Van Gogh wrestles with fear, guilt, and helplessness. The crows from his painting Wheatfield with Crows symbolize impending death. However, in this scene, the artist frees himself from the burdens of life.

 

Scene 14: Finale – Immortality

The play concludes with the triumph of Van Gogh’s art, which has stood the test of time. His life, though marked by suffering, lives on in his paintings. The audience is left with the message that true art is eternal, and despite his tragic fate, Van Gogh achieved immortality.