My Mom and Vincent Van Gogh
This is a true story. Today the Washington Post ran a story about how a painting by Van Gogh was discovered underneath another one of his paintings. My Mom sees the headline and gets a glint in her eye. "You don't think this could be the same one do you?" I knew just what she meant.... My Mom grew up in the depression and quit school after 8th grade in order to help support her family. As the 3rd of 8 kids, that's what you did back then. Fast forward to 1974. Her daughter (that would be me) is accepted to law school and off I went to Washington DC. My Mom comes to visit and see her daughter the law student. She's never been to an art gallery. She decides that the first place she wants to go in DC is to the National Gallery of Art. If you've never been, this is a wonderful place. Built in the depression, it is huge and solid and cool and full of amazing things, including several works by Vincent Van Gogh. My Mom had never heard of Vincent, but as soon as she saw one of his paintings, she exclaimed -- "Wow, look at those brush strokes" and rubbed her hand all over the painting. I mean ALL over the painting, just feeling those amazing strokes. There was no guard or alarms back then, at least none I saw. But, I was stunned. My instinct told me that this was NOT A GOOD THING. I grabbed her and we ran out of that museum, down the wide staircase, like bats out of hell. When I explained to her how precious, how valuable, how rare, how expensive, how fragile the painting was, it was Mom's turn to be stunned. She had no idea that NO ONE lays a hand (literally) on a Van Gogh painting. Ever. Except for my Mom.
I love this story Joan!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh...I think I would have ran out of there as well! Great story!!
ReplyDeletelove it!
ReplyDeletego mom!
This is a fabulous story!!! I love it!!
ReplyDeleteI was at the DIA (Detroit)a few years ago and there was a noise coming from a box on the floor. I had no idea what is was and it bugged me , so I lifted the lid to see and it was a tape recorder inside. and the lid fell off too. a security guard came in and yelled and yelled at me for breaking it-mind you this was after 9-11 and they tell you to report odd things. Then the guard got into my case about slavery (that was the exihibit) and that I wasnt black and didnt know anything about a hard life bla bla bla-----I told her butt off big time. My gramma was "bought" for a price and sent to Canada to wash a rancher's underwear and nearly died doing it. SH had a horrible oral infection and was on death's door until another ranch hand got her to a doctor. Skin color has nothing to do with how humans treat other humans. My gramma escaped that brutality and other's didnt and I cant change any of that. I can only make sure it doesnt happen ever again-no matter what age, race, sex or religion anyone is. Anyways, it was mind boggling to me for this person I didnt know to do this in public and that I stood up to her, but I never went back t0 the DIA even when they had the Van Gogh exhibit I so wanted to see later. So I am glad you mom got to touch the past and the future!
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely priceless story!!
ReplyDeletehow wonderful that your mom felt the painting and appreciated it! she rocks!
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that if Vincent had known about this story and how your Mom REALLY experienced his painting, he would be smiling! I am sure that he painted to share his love of art and he would have loved the fact that your Mom was truly enjoying his art!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many times we've all wanted to do something like this. I would love to be able to touch the sunflowers.
ReplyDeleteLOL, what a cool story!
ReplyDeletePeople are very touchy feely sort of creatures, I enjoy making stuff that tolerates being touched. Its much easier than to make stuff that you have to guard and protect :)
I think this is an awesome story (that could have happened to my mother and I) and I agree with moosisk!
ReplyDeleteJoan, you are such a wonderful storyteller. I always enjoy reading what you have to say about so many thngs. What a wonderful memory you have of you and your Mom running out of the gallery like bats out of hell. :)
ReplyDeleteMary
I saw his paintings there too. I'm with your mom; they just beg to be touched. (Hope she washed the lead off.)
ReplyDeleteI didn't touch the Van Gogh's at the National Gallery, but I got very very close! My nose was nearly touching the paintings! The guards kept looking at me, but I couldn't help it. I was like, "Shiloh, paintings HAVE TEXTURE!!! Did you know that?" Thanks for sharing your story!
ReplyDelete~Kendra
What a wonderful story...I lived at the galleriess, having grown up outside of DC and oh so loved getting up close to the paintings. Studying each stroke. In awe.
ReplyDeleteThe texture of his painting is something that just does not translate to paper. While I enjoy seeing prints of his work, seeing the beautiful texture is what brings those paintings to life. I have spent much time enjoying his work in New York, and wished I could touch them. I'm sure not many people have - hope your mom treasured her experience!
ReplyDeleteAh, the innocence...now that's art appreciation at its finest!
ReplyDeleteToo funny. Love your story.
ReplyDeleteI hate to admit it but your mom is not the only one. My DH touches stuff in museums all the time, not stuff that would set off alarms but sculpture and things that are just "out", he taps them, etc. Our first date was at a museum and I was shocked when I saw him doing this because I'm very careful to not touch those types of things!
ReplyDeleteJust the other day my daily Far Side calendar had a guy standing sheepishly next to a collapsed dinosaur skeleton in a museum - that is SO my DH.
What a great memory! It reminds me of 2 occasions...I was with my mom at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and she reached out wanting to do the SAME thing as your mom, but there was a guard that stopped her before her hand could touch! She was so embarassed! Another time, DH & I went to a cocktail party at the same museum celebrating the opening of a Monet exhibit; now whether it was too many cocktails or just a mis-step, I'll never know, but a woman tripped on the bar that holds a rail to prevent you from touching the art and she nearly knocked the painting off the wall when she threw her hands forward to avoid falling! YIKES! I'm glad your mom got to touch and feel the work of a MASTER! We should all be so lucky!
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