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I'm specifically referring to the phenomenon that certain artists get lifted to semi-god status where even the sketch of a football on a restaurant napkin sudde
by kleiba 5y ago
I'm specifically referring to the phenomenon that certain artists get lifted to semi-god status where even the sketch of a football on a restaurant napkin suddenly becomes news-worthy.
"Hey, take a look at these sketches."
"Nice. Seems like the typical sketches of an arts student."
"But these are by Van Gogh."
"Oh. My. GOOOD!"
Well, obviously I'm exaggerating for dramatic purposes but my general point should become clear. The man was an outstanding artist, no question about it. But that does not mean that every single thing he did, every careless sketch he jotted down for who-knows-what purpose needs to be met with stunned adoration.
When it's not about the artistic merit of the sketches but purely the fact that they were drawn by Van Gogh, then the focus is not the art but the artist. That, in my opinion, qualifies as "fanboy-ism" although, of course, I chose this term also in parts for its controversial connotation.
Given his status in the history of art, there could be a second interesting aspect to such a discovery: do these sketches tell us anything about Van Gogh's life that might be relevant and hasn't previously been known? I don't see that here, either.