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 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.
Selfies, Crowds, And A Van Gogh Mug
- Museums make it hard to see Van Gogh plainly because of crowds and selfie culture around works like Sunflowers.
- Barnes recounts his goddaughter in Mumbai happily using a Van Gogh mug as a reminder that popular reach can be benign.
The Brand That Obscures The Painting
- Van Gogh has become a global brand, surrounded by biography, fiction, film and gift shops that create additional noise.
- Barnes warns this proliferation can coarsen our experience of the paintings themselves.
