The LRB Podcast Julian Barnes: Selfie with ‘Sunflowers’
12 snips
Jul 29, 2015 
Julian Barnes, a renowned novelist and critic, delves into the vibrant world of Van Gogh, exploring his artistic influences and the evolution from line to bold color in 19th-century art. He passionately discusses Van Gogh's unique palette as a 'noise' that expresses his zeal for life and art. Through personal letters, Barnes illuminates Van Gogh's struggles and social challenges, questioning how modern fame complicates our connection to his work. Ultimately, Barnes reflects on Van Gogh’s enduring appeal and invites listeners to engage with art in a meaningful way.
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Colour Emerged From Artistic Continuity
- Van Gogh's colour revolution built on earlier French painters like Corot and Chardin rather than appearing ex nihilo.
- Barnes argues artistic change is continuity as much as rupture, with predecessors prefiguring later styles.
Colour Won, Then Lost, Then Transformed
- The 19th-century struggle between colour and line resolved temporarily in favour of colour, then shifted again with cubism.
- Barnes frames Van Gogh's colours as an unleashed intensity that shocked contemporary expectations.
Colour As Visual Noise
- Van Gogh treated colour as noise, placing extreme hues side by side to create a new visual roar.
- This flamboyant palette emerged from his earlier dark, socially engaged Dutch work, not from emptiness.
