Last Sunday morning when I mentioned to my mom I had to visit a museum for my English class, she thought it would be a great idea to visit the Getty as a family. She said, “You can’t really compare the feeling of seeing a piece of art in real life to seeing it on a postcard or desktop screensaver.” That’s definitely what I felt first hand when I visited the Getty Museum. What I saw in front of me was very different from the reproduced pieces I see everyday. I saw some very large paintings while others were small but each one had its own concept and soul that was visible through the colors and kind of objects used on the canvas.
Background Information
I discovered that each painting had its own distinct aura that moved and captured me. The visit took over three hours but I found myself locked on one specific piece of artwork. Not surprising, it has been reproduced in various ways, I have seen it in magazines and even on umbrellas. Evidently, this painting is also the Getty’s most prized possessions; it’s the Irises by Vincent van Gogh.
Surroundings
The proper room light, beautiful paint colors and room placement made the work of art very unique. The painting spoke to me, not only because it was remarkable and of great value but because I really enjoyed looking at the bright purple and deep green colors. Seeing the painting in person offered so much more than seeing the Irises mechanically reproduced on different mediums like dinner napkins and decorative French pillowcases. I later learned that this painting was one of the most famous paintings at the Getty. Indeed, the tourists were well aware of the importance of the piece because they surrounded the painting, each one tried to get a closer to get a glimpse of the textures and brush strokes. The room was chilly and in the background I could hear the tourists and my mom discussing the beauty and the tragic death of its owner with my younger sister. I still remember the two security guards that were standing on each side of the canvas, pretty tired and old, but their job was to protect the artwork from theft and most importantly ask the visitors to turn off their phone flashes while taking pictures.
History and Aura
Looking at the canvas it was hard to believe how someone in so much pain had produced such a calming piece of artwork. Van Gogh achieved his goal, it was simple to connect to the painting and you can feel that he’s trying to communicate what is a quiet, sunny and serene garden. I understood what Walter Benjamin and John Berger were trying to say in their essays. Something is different about seeing a painting in an art gallery, the image, the way you see it, how you’re feeling that day touches you and remains with you. I was touched because I got the total experience of the painting, I examined every inch and thought about where it was painted and what else Van Gogh might of wanted to say through the painting. I understood the intensity of the canvas as I looked at the petals of the flowers and examined the strokes of the brushes, still visible on the surface even after all these year. But when I look at the beautiful landscape, I feel especially sad to know the painting is completed in the garden of an asylum in Saint-Remy, France. The Dutch artist had voluntarily admitted himself and felt better as he expressed his inner feelings through art. He established his painting as “the lightning conductor for my illness” because he felt calmer when he painted it. Interestingly, this painting sold for more than $50 million dollars to Alan Bond. However, Bond didn’t have enough money to pay for it; therefore, it was sent to the Los Angeles Getty Museum. Overall, this piece is one of Vincent Van Gogh’s greatest paintings and I’m now one of its most captured audiences.
I discovered that each painting had its own distinct aura that moved and captured me. The visit took over three hours but I found myself locked on one specific piece of artwork. Not surprising, it has been reproduced in various ways, I have seen it in magazines and even on umbrellas. Evidently, this painting is also the Getty’s most prized possessions; it’s the Irises by Vincent van Gogh.
- Its original title in French, "Les Iris"
- It was completed in 1889, sadly one year before the great artist committed suicide but now the upper floor of the North building is its home.
- Vincent van Gogh described this painting as a “study” because it was executed without any prior drawings.
Surroundings
The proper room light, beautiful paint colors and room placement made the work of art very unique. The painting spoke to me, not only because it was remarkable and of great value but because I really enjoyed looking at the bright purple and deep green colors. Seeing the painting in person offered so much more than seeing the Irises mechanically reproduced on different mediums like dinner napkins and decorative French pillowcases. I later learned that this painting was one of the most famous paintings at the Getty. Indeed, the tourists were well aware of the importance of the piece because they surrounded the painting, each one tried to get a closer to get a glimpse of the textures and brush strokes. The room was chilly and in the background I could hear the tourists and my mom discussing the beauty and the tragic death of its owner with my younger sister. I still remember the two security guards that were standing on each side of the canvas, pretty tired and old, but their job was to protect the artwork from theft and most importantly ask the visitors to turn off their phone flashes while taking pictures.
History and Aura
Looking at the canvas it was hard to believe how someone in so much pain had produced such a calming piece of artwork. Van Gogh achieved his goal, it was simple to connect to the painting and you can feel that he’s trying to communicate what is a quiet, sunny and serene garden. I understood what Walter Benjamin and John Berger were trying to say in their essays. Something is different about seeing a painting in an art gallery, the image, the way you see it, how you’re feeling that day touches you and remains with you. I was touched because I got the total experience of the painting, I examined every inch and thought about where it was painted and what else Van Gogh might of wanted to say through the painting. I understood the intensity of the canvas as I looked at the petals of the flowers and examined the strokes of the brushes, still visible on the surface even after all these year. But when I look at the beautiful landscape, I feel especially sad to know the painting is completed in the garden of an asylum in Saint-Remy, France. The Dutch artist had voluntarily admitted himself and felt better as he expressed his inner feelings through art. He established his painting as “the lightning conductor for my illness” because he felt calmer when he painted it. Interestingly, this painting sold for more than $50 million dollars to Alan Bond. However, Bond didn’t have enough money to pay for it; therefore, it was sent to the Los Angeles Getty Museum. Overall, this piece is one of Vincent Van Gogh’s greatest paintings and I’m now one of its most captured audiences.
Vartan Deranteriassian is a freshman at California State University Northridge who plans on graduating with a degree in Computer Information Technology. He loves to play sports and spend time with his family and friends.