Post-Van Gogh Retrospective:
Post-Van Gogh Series

Dr. T.F. Chen

Chatting About Vincent
Oil on canvas
40" x 30"
1990

In Jan Vermeer's original artwork, "The Soldier and the Young Girl Smiling," (1632-75) a sailor's map hangs upon the wall as a conventional decoration in a Dutch household of the 17th Century.  In Chen's work, the two people remain the same, but we find Vincent van Gogh's canvas, "Coal Barges," (1888) temporarily hung up upon the wall instead, waiting to be framed.

Thus a story develops:
The brilliant sunset sky with its warm reflections upon the river cuts a rich silhouette of the coal barges with workers and a French flag in view.  Vincent has just finished this painting and has sent it to Holland via the Dutch soldier as a gift to the delighted young girl.  After hanging up the painting for all to admire, she joyfully chats with the gift-bearer, thanking him for the gift's safe delivery.  Perhaps the girl is Van Gogh's sister or lover; perhaps they are chatting about Vincent in Arles and of his wonderful artistic achievements.

Of course, such a scenario can only be possible in art, not in reality.  For example, this conversation scene took place in the 17th Century and Van Gogh painted the "Coal Barges" in Arles in 1888.  Moreover, the lightened glass window is a design after Mondrain, another Dutch master, but of the 20th Century.

Thus, Chen's brush renders three-hundred years in one stroke on one canvas; gathering Vermeer, Van Gogh, and Mondrian together into a small corner of a Dutch chamber, enchanted by the light pouring in through the window.