Gogh Vincent van - Conversations with-- Van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh has come to live in Auvers, after spending time in the St Rmy mental asylum. Previous to that, he lived in the Yellow House in Arles.

We talk in a room crowded with his pictures. Like many aspiring artists, hes struggled to find interest amongst art dealers and buyers.

He lives in a disciplined manner. He goes out to paint at 9.00am, after breakfast, returning at noon for lunch. In the afternoon, he either works in his Painters Room on paintings already started or he goes out again, and paints until the evening meal.

Yesterday, he painted the 13-year-old Adeline Ravoux. She is the landladys daughter. Vincent completed the portrait in one sitting, and its a study in blue though this morning when we met on the stairs, Adeline told me she doesnt like it very much.

Apart from the paintings, there is a distinct lack of furniture which I raise with him; and discover its a sore point.

V: I am beginning to think I must consider my furniture lost.

SP: But surely its on its way from Arles?

V: My friends whom it is with, will not, so far as I can see, put themselves out to send it to me, as I am no longer there.

SP: Why not?

V: This is mostly the traditional laziness and the old traditional story, that passing strangers leave temporary furniture in the place where it is. Its bad manners, but what can you do?

SP: Is that a South of France thing?

V: Its not quite the same in the South as in the North, no. The people there do what they like, and dont take the trouble to think of others if they are not there.

SP: Out of sight, out of mind.

V: And of course they do not like to be mixed up any further in this business, which has been much talked of in Arles.

SP: The unfortunate incident with your ear, yes; and no doubt well get to that. But on a brighter note, Vincent, let me say straight away how wonderful it is to be surrounded by your paintings. Is there such a thing as an ideal background for them apart from a rich mans lounge?!

V: My painting is to be seen above all against a simple background. I try to paint it in such a way it looks good in a kitchen. Then sometimes I notice it looks good in a drawing room too.

SP: And here is a self-portrait of yours. So perhaps at the start of our time together, could you talk us through it? Describe yourself?

V: I hate speaking about myself, and I have no idea why I do it. Perhaps I do it in order to answer your questions.

SP: Perhaps it helps you to see what youve found to be true.

V: You see what I have found my work! And you see too what I have not found all the rest that belongs to life.

SP: You just paint?

V: A painting machine, thats right, unfit for and uninterested in anything else. I am now in the same mess as in the past.

SP: Id still like you to describe this self-portrait.

V: A pink-grey face, with green eyes, ash-coloured hair, wrinkles in forehead and around the mouth, stiffly wooden, a very red beard, quite unkempt and sad, but the lips are full, and a blue smock of course linen.

SP: You like blue; Ive noticed.

V: Youll say that this is something like the face of death oh, it isnt easy to paint oneself! In any event, something different from a photograph.

SP: Oh definitely, yes. I dont think the photograph will ever replace the painted portrait.

V: And you see, this is what Impressionism has over the rest.

SP: Whats that?

V: It isnt banal, and one seeks a deeper likeness than that of the photographer; the proud photographer with his black shadows!

SP: So that was you a few years ago. What about you now?

V: Yes, I look different nowadays, in so far as I have neither hair nor beard, both being always shaved close.

SP: More like a Buddhist monk.

V: Having had all my beard carefully shaved off, I believe I am both the placid abbot and the mad painter.

SP: Interesting combination. Better than being a mad abbot or a placid painter.

V: Im not unhappy to be somewhere between the two, because you have to live!

SP: Your complexion has changed over the years.

V: My complexion has changed from green-grey to grey-orange and I have a white suit instead of a blue one, and am always dusty, and always laden like a porcupine with sticks, easel, canvas and other merchandise.