Post-Van Gogh Retrospective:
Post-Van Gogh Series

Dr. T.F. Chen

Painting Van Gogh
Acrylic on canvas
36" x 48"
1991

Vincent's self-portraits reveal a wealth of possibilities in expressing a face, as well as in interpreting a character (psychology).  Thus, Van Gogh's self-portraits inspired quite a few artists, including Chen, to paint over them.

Taking the subject of "Painting Van Gogh," T.F. Chen has employed the painter in Jan Vermeer's "The Atelier," (c. 1665-1670) to stand in as the icon which represents all artist-painters.  She/He sits in front of his easel, working intently.  Sitting majestically beside him, Vincent's "Mousume" (1888) watches, yet with the face of Pablo Picasso's Famous "Girl Before A mirror" (1932), now in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City.  Henri Matisse is present in this studio as well, through his still life of a pineapple, some oranges and lemons, and a vase of flowers, set upon a golden tray atop a red-and -white striped cloth.  In addition, we find a portion of Matisse's famous "The Dance" (1910) except the figures are colored in white, yellow, brown, red and blue-black to indicate the five races of humanity, dancing in harmony.

Amid this colorful, crowded studio, tow versions of Van Gogh's portraits are partially hidden.  One of them is on the canvas, still unfinished, under the artist's sleeve.  The other one faces us, with Van Gogh's piercing eyes, drawing all of the vivid colors and diffused forms of the painting together in one melodious resonance.