The Bedroom, Van Gogh

In an overly-full Goodwill today, I found this print of Van Gogh.

I’d never really thought much of this painting until today. It’s titled The Bedroom. I studied it in school, along with a couple others from Van Gogh, but the saturated colors and extreme child-like stylization never appealed to me greatly.
Today though, seeing this print still wrapped in its original plastic, bought years ago from the Art Institute of Chicago, I was immediately enthralled.

Searching for more information about it after delightedly purchasing, I learned that this is the second of 3 almost identical paintings Van Gogh worked – all of the same bedroom scene. In 1888, Van Gogh moved into his “Yellow House” in Arles, France, the first home of his own. He painted a series of works excitedly upon his arrival to fill the walls, then, apparently exhausted, laid in bed for two days. He was inspired by the view from his pillow and sheets to create this painting, along with its two siblings. They are now housed in three different collections across the globe – one in Amsterdam, one in Chicago and one in Paris.

I like that Van Gogh created something beautiful out of the space that he had and the space that he was proud of. I hung this lovely print (rather crudely) in my bedroom. I like that I now have a piece of Van Gogh’s home in my own.

“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”
― Vincent Van Gogh