Gauguin’s Chair

I am still wondering about Gauguin’s Chair
So beautiful
So wonderful
So full of wonder
Reflecting the gas light
Reds and Greens
Curves
No right angles
The best seat
in the house
Reserved for someone
special
loved
valued
adored

© Timothy E. Wahlstrom, March 5, 2023
Inspired by Vincent’s Gauguin’s Chair as seen in The Van Gough Museum in Amsterdam, by me in January 2023 with Kevin, Karen, and Anna. And by the print on stretched canvas that hangs in our home, a 63rd birthday gift from Kevin, Anna, Ben, Kara, Jacob, Anna, Joelle, Mary, and Sara. I am saddened by the events after Vincent painted this chair. He got into an argument with his friend and Gauguin left the Yellow House in the South of France. It was a dream  that the house would be a place of welcome to other artists. That dream died when Gauguin left and Vincent cut off his own ear, gave it to a prostitute, and was institutionalized. I think it was because Vincent was suffering from a broken heart at the loss of his friend. Broken hearted at the emptiness of the house, the empty chair, the emptiness in his heart. It was too much to bear alone and madness took over. 

Don McLean was right, 
“For they could not love you. 
But, still your love was true. 
And when no hope was left in sight on that starry starry night. 
You took your life as lovers often do.
I could have told you Vincent,.
This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.”
"Vincent" is a song by Don McLean written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh. It is also known by its opening line, "Starry Starry Night", a reference to Van Gogh's 1889 painting The Starry Night. The song also describes other paintings by the artist. McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of van Gogh. It was released on McLean's 1971 American Pie album, and the following year the song became the No. 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks. and No. 12 in the US. In the US, "Vincent" also hit No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 94 song for 1972. The song makes use mainly of the guitar but also includes the accordion, marimba, and strings. The song was a particular favorite of the rapper and actor Tupac Shakur, and was played to him in the hospital just before he died.