Brief reminder of Part 1 (without mistake )
Auvers-sur-Oise, a charming little village in the Paris Basin, nestling between the chalk cliffs and the river Oise, owes its fame to the impressionists, including Van Gogh, who drew their inspiration there.
Hard hit by the various crises he sufered in Arles and then in the Saint-Rémy asylum, Van Gogh moved closer to Paris and his brother to find a new creative impetus. Auvers was chose because of the presence of Dr Gachet, a doctor specialising in the traetment of melancoly, and also an amateur painter. On 20 May 1890, at Pissaro ' s request, this psychiatric specialist welcomed Van Gogh on his arrival in Auvers. He put him up in the centre of the village, in the Ravoux inn, where he was given full board for 350. francs a day.
He was housed in a modest garret of 7 m2, lit by a single skylight. The doctor did his best to help Vincent overcome his anxietyes, while providing him with the material conforts he needed to flourish. The portrait of the doctor was part of this particularly intense creative phase, in which he was immortalised in three paintings in a melancholy attitude. Van Gogh ' s stay with Dr Gachet initially seemed to benefit his art. He painted almost one canvas a day, and some of them are now considered to be among his masterpieces.
Despite this, the painter taken his own life just two months after his arrival, on 29 July 1890, by fatally shooting himself in his chest with a revolver. His work was not recognise during his lifetime. At the age of 37, he left behind some 800 canvases feverishly elaborated over 10 years of passion.
Having escaped industrialisation, Auvers-sur-Oise has remained virtualy unchanged since the 19th century. It still exudes the charm of yesteryear and a gentle way of life. Auvers-sur-Oise, a small village on the bancks of the River Oise, has a rich artistic past, where painters found the tranquillity they needed to draw inspiration. As a result, this haven of peace retains deep-rooted memories of the great masters of impressionism. |
