The Eyes of Van Gogh (2005)

Alexander Barnett: Vincent van Gogh

Photos 

Quotes 

• Vincent van Gogh : I must finish my work.

• Vincent van Gogh : [Vincent arguing with his brother Theo, who is an art dealer]  The people who run this field, they're the worst enemies of art. They encourage the worst, the most barbaric taste. But you - - my God, you could do something about it.

• Vincent van Gogh : Someday I must be able to paint portraits that - - a hundred years from now they will appear like apparitions to the people seeing them. They would be like ghosts - - the living spirits of the dead. They'd still be striving, growling, eternal life.

• Vincent van Gogh : [Vincent rhapsodizes to Gauguin on his vision for the Studio of the South]  We could leave behind a body of work that would last forever. We could educate the people. We could change the world.

• Vincent van Gogh : Just think, Paul, this could be the beginning of a whole new era, a new dawn in art: The Studio of the South.

• Vincent van Gogh : Someday I must be able to do a figure in just a few strokes. Imagine. In a few strokes, a man, a woman, a child with the head, body, and legs - - all in the right proportion.

• Vincent van Gogh : [Vincent and Gauguin quarrel about the best way to paint]  It's difficult not being outside. It's damned near impossible. I've got to see the colors. I need to breathe the air.

• Vincent van Gogh : Without substance there is no art.

• Vincent van Gogh : A painting must have heart, soul, passion. Without that it's worthless.

• Vincent van Gogh : Why is it that everyone who disagrees with you is an ignorant fool?

  Paul Gauguin : I don't know. I've often asked myself the same question.

• Vincent van Gogh : Remove this thing - - this feeling. Take it from me - - rip it out - - I can't bear it.

• Vincent van Gogh : I want to paint action. I want to paint life. I want to show the soul in nature - - the nobility in man. But no one will ever know. It's all wasted. Wasted. Wasted

• Vincent van Gogh : Working on my pictures is a necessity for my recovery. If I can't paint, my life is worthless.

  Dr. Peyron : And it is this kind of exaggerated thinking that is so dangerous for you. You become too absorbed in your work and then you lose control of the rest of your life. This is why I prefer that you abstain from painting.

• Vincent van Gogh : I can very well do without religion and without God. The only ting I can't do without is my work.

• Vincent van Gogh : You see, doctor, I love life, I love nature, I love to paint, to read, to see people and things and... I'm not a martyr. I hate suffering. I don't accept it as a natural way of life. I want to live. I want to work. The work is my only cure.