Statue de Van Gogh

Gazing at the Statue de Van Gogh, one might initially assume it depicts only Vincent. Look closer. This powerful bronze sculpture by Ossip Zadkine actually portrays both Vincent and his brother Theo. The Statue de Van Gogh stands as a testament to their unbreakable bond, a relationship that profoundly shaped Vincent’s artistic journey. The intertwined figures, heads leaning together, hands clasped, capture the deep emotional connection between the brothers. Neither figure is a precise likeness, but the sculpture’s strength lies in its symbolic representation of their shared life and passion for art. The statue is quite tall, approximately 2.5 meters, rising from a thick bronze base on a low stone plinth. This plinth itself holds a unique story. It comes from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where Vincent spent a year, a gift from the town council. Within the stone, a tube contains soil from the garden of the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole monastery hospital where Vincent sought treatment. The plinth bears a poignant inscription, a fragment from one of Vincent’s last letters to Theo: “par mon intermédiaire tu as ta part à la production même de certaines toiles qui même dans la débâcle gardent leur calme.” This translates to, “through my deeds you have witnessed the creation of several paintings which will breathe tranquility even in times of upheaval.” These words resonate with the enduring power of art, even in the face of personal struggles. The Statue de Van Gogh stands as a powerful symbol of fraternal love and the enduring legacy of Vincent van Gogh, made even more meaningful by the interwoven stories of its creation.