van3


			T.F. Chen Cultural Center Post-Van Gogh Retrospective: Post-Van Gogh Series Dr. T.F. Chen She (Venus) Loves Van Gogh Acrylic on canvas 40" x 60" 1990
			Velasquez: "The Toilet of Venus," (c. 1649-50), National Gallery, London; "Self-Portrait," (1888), Coll. John Hay Whitney, New York
	Previous Art Work 3 of 16 Next About the center About the artist
	The two icons of this painting come from Diego Velasquez' "The Toilet of Venus" (c. 1649-50), now at the National Gallery of London, and Vincent van Gogh's "Self-Portrait" (1898), now in John Hay Whitney's Collection. The masterpieces were created approximately two and a half centuries apart from each other. In the original artwork by Velasquez, Venus gaze at herself through a mirror held by an angel. In Chen's interpretation, Venus now looks fondly upon one of Vincent van Gogh's self-portraits. Is the Goddess of Love selecting a painting for herself? Or is she looking back at her old love? Perhaps she is passing the time as she waits for her lover to return? Dose the Goddess love the artist or the artwork? If you were Venus, what would be your answer? -- An intriguing question for post-modern art.