Visiting Vincent at the MOMA

A friend of my believes that all artists should have quit after Van Gogh. I share his regard. There was an exhibit of his work presented at the MoMA, (Museum of Modern Art) entitled Van Gogh, Colors of the Night. The Exhibition tells the story of Van Gogh's quest to paint the night sky. This was not so simple a task. He literally could not see to paint in the dark of night in this time before electricity. The exhibition features his attempts to paint from memory and moonlight until finally he realizes that he can use the gaslight at the outskirts of the town and see to paint in the dark. There is a painting which demonstrates this. His simple goal reveals a man who was pure of heart. He sold less than five paintings in his lifetime. He sought neither riches nor fame. He simply wanted to share what he saw and experienced in the night sky, through his art. And he does. The paintings show the night as spiritual, alive with mystery. At the end of the exhibit I looked up at the women standing next to me, in front of Van Gogh' masterpiece and final triumph, Starry Night. She and I were both in tears.

Starry Night makes its home at the MoMA and if that were the only thing there to see it would be worth the visit but there are many other artists and works in the permanent collection and wonderful exhibitions as well.

Entrance to the museum is $20. Friday nights from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. there is no charge.