Vincent Van Gogh 93 - Light & Colour Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

The budding artistes of Paris loved Theo.
As an art dealer, he was kind and generous,
He gave them all a chance to showcase their art.
Theo's gentle soul and his soft manners endeared him
To many artistes, both the well-known and the unknown.
Theo introduced Vincent to Paul Gauguin and other
Established Artistes like Degas, Pissaro, Seurat. Lautrec,
Monet and Renoir. Vincent enjoyed meeting these artistes.

Vincent interacted with artistes of Paris.
He keenly observed their technique and style,
So far, Vincent was aware of the Dutch tradition of art only.
Now, in Paris, he was introduced to the Impressionists.
He found these artistes bold, colourful and revolutionary.
The whole art of painting was very different here.
The canvas was done in all the brightest shades - the nature
And people were all vague. abstract masses of dotted light.

Vincent began to adapt the new technique of abstraction.
He made many paintings with the technique of dots and lines,
Vibrant colours like yellow, orange, blue dominated his paintings
The scenes of restaurants, streets, and gardens,
Became an expression of hope, cheer and optimism.
His mind was now open to the beauty and goodness of nature.
Gone was the heavy browns and greys of his holland days,
It was now replaced with luminous colours of warm gaiety.

In spite of living in the heart of Paris in Montemartre,
Vincent never lost his love for nature and the countryside.
He still preferred the peasants and workers who toiled hard.
During springtime, he spent his time painting woods and trees.
His paintings of fishing in spring on a boat, fields of grain,
Ready and ripe for harvesting, with an open blue sky
And a bird soaring up, reflected his positive attitude,
The cheerful hues of beauty, yearning and sweet dreams.

A Biographical Poem