Vincent Van Gogh
portrait of Theo van Gogh (?). 1887
Source: artinfo.com

Studies, published by curators Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam recently opened shestisotstranichnom catalog of the exhibition "Van Gogh in Antwerp and Paris: new perspectives", attracted attention in scientific circles and among the general public. Some of the findings of scientists do not cause any controversy - the fact, for example, that the painting "Wheatfield with lark" actually depicts grouse. During a living specialists hurt other news: directory argues that self-portrait by Van Gogh in 1887 in fact - the image of his his brother Theo.

In Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, holds more than two hundred paintings of the painter of genius, and about five hundred of his drawings. This collection - the largest collection of Van Gogh in the world - the gift of the artist's family. The museum is actively conducted research work, are constantly emerging new research works by Van Gogh. Published for the exhibition catalog includes 550 illustrations, including not only masterpieces by Van Gogh himself, but also works by artists who influenced his work.

Nevertheless, many are not prepared to agree with the conclusion which was made head of the Research Center of the museum Louis van Tilborg and chief curator of the Ella Hendriks. Today we can say only one thing: the staff of the museum provoked a lively debate in the international art environment.

Much of what we know about Van Gogh's life, we know of 652 letters the artist addressed to his beloved brother Theo. The question of why Theo did not appear in the paintings of Vincent, a long time dominates the minds of scientists. And so, in preparation for the new exhibition van Tilborg and Hendrix learned from the store a small portrait, dated 1887, and began to meticulously compare it with another picture of the same year. Previously, both paintings were regarded as self-portraits, but the researchers decided, one of them depicted Vincent and the other - Theo.

In defense of this version are three main proof: a form of ear Theo was more rounded than his brother, his beard rather light brown, not red, like Vincent, and his cheeks - shaven. The dispute over the shape of the ears is only possible for the brothers because both of the portrait painted in 1887. It is worth recalling that in the next, Vincent 1888 during an attack of illness had hurt his ear, and then portrayed himself some time with bandaged ear, which greatly facilitates the work of art historians.

raises doubts the following fact: the portrait depicted a man, whose curators Amsterdam called Theo, appears before the audience in a wide-brimmed straw hat worn by artists of that time working in the open air, and Vincent is depicted in gray felt hat - such as hats worn by the Parisian bourgeoisie once. What does all this mess? According to the statement of curators, most likely, the decision of Van Gogh's "share" with his brother hats - "just a joke».

However, many experts on this basis become thoughtful: I do not get confused if the curators themselves and Amsterdam Do they not introduce us astray? Independent curator Belinda Thompson, author of "Masterpieces by Van Gogh," said resource ARTINFO, that in her opinion, "logical" that Van Gogh in this period of his life created a portrait of his brother. But Thompson has always felt that it was a man in a gray felt hat - "a complete copy of Theo." As arguments, it gives the same "ten differences": "Theo more pointed face with delicate features, high cheekbones and sunken more than her brother, her cheeks." Thompson comes to an unexpected conclusion, and writes: "I have to catalog the authors the following question: Are not both" self-portrait ", in fact, portraits of Theo?»

dispute about the form of ear Brothers Van Gogh is especially unconvincing, says Thompson. According to her ears in the pictures "may look different depending on the light." The art critic Martin Gayford, author of "Yellow House" on the life of Van Gogh and Gauguin in Arles, I agree with it and also believes that "talk about the shape of the ears and the like - completely unconvincing." Gayford agreed with Thompson that is just another self-portrait is much more like Theo. But he adds one more interesting detail: "It is indisputable that Vincent, especially during periods of illness, thought of his brother kind of alterego, which further complicates the problem».

On Museum website also a fierce debate about who is actually depicted on the two portraits. Users of the site, among others, have put forward a version of: floors coat on both the viewer can see the portraits in mirror image. And since then the buttons on men's clothing is usually located on the right, it can be argued that the two portraits, Van Gogh painted with the same model - his own reflection in the mirror. Participants in the discussion so insisted on being right that the museum researcher Louis van Tilborgu had to intervene: the blog of the museum, he strongly rejected the version about the floor of his jacket, saying that because some buttons are not visible at all, you can not say with certainty which side buttoned jackets on Both portraits. "Moreover, we know that some self-portraits by Van Gogh painted jackets buttoned from right to left, while on the other - left to right. Most likely, Van Gogh was not too concerned about the realistic display of similar components ».

very curious that this self-portrait of Van Gogh a few decades ago, has called the portrait of Theo. The curators of the museum wrote that Jacob Baart de la Faye, a catalog-Raisonné Van Gogh in 1928 and in 1958 came to exactly the same conclusion. The brothers were indeed very similar, which is confirmed by the widow of Theo - Jo van Gogh-Bonger, noting here that the facial features Theo was more subtle than her brother. Nevertheless, the son of Theo, Vincent Willem van Gogh rejected the version of La Fay, and she gradually sank into oblivion.

curators have arranged an excellent advertisement of a new exhibition in the press, thus reviving the version of La Fey, and French publication Le Figaro doubt , so do not intentionally inflated the researchers whether such a buzz around their research. Browser LeFigarogovorit that in the catalog, all six hundred pages are devoted to three-year period of the artist, from 1885 to 1888, the museum staff are trying to rewrite history by suggesting new points of view, it would seem all the known facts.

It is unlikely that the dispute over the two portraits will be resolved soon. And the exhibition itself to pay tribute: it is brilliantly prepared and beautifully illuminates the vicissitudes of the creative development of Van Gogh during his stay in Paris, where he lived and Theo in Montmartre, and made friends with Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec. In Paris, van Gogh created a series of self portraits. The reason is simple: he could not afford to pay for sitters. Van Gogh himself turned it into everyday fact of creative challenge and wrote to his sister: "I intend to show that the same person can write a completely different set of portraits." Van Gogh, of course, meet the goal than at the same time led to confusion and delight generations of art historians and connoisseurs of art.

Prepared Estrova Maria, AI

Source: artinfo.com , lefigaro.fr , artinvestment.ru