Van Gogh Reborn!

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

After visiting the WH Art Museum, I fell in love with Korean painting.

I spent the whole day just seeing the ancient art museum and couldn't stop by any other places, but now I am happy just studying Korean painting.

I came in contact with oriental art through Japanese ukiyo-e, which was popular in Paris at the time.

Even though they were neighbouring countries, the styles of painting in Korea and Japan were completely different.

While Japan used strong primary colours, Korea used colours more naturally.

In Korea, of course, there was also a very splendid style called Jinchae painting, but ink paintings with a large number of works generally capture a deep image in natural expressions.

In particular, the painters Kim Hongdo and Shin Yunbok, who were introduced by grandfather, were very interesting because of the fact that they painted not only natural landscapes but also the daily lives of people at the time.

It is said that the person who painted the Genre paintings were recognized as the best painter in the country, so it can be seen that the Joseon Dynasty of Korea was quite open.

Its Sumo.

While I was reading a book of Korean traditional paintings, my grandfather approached me.

I thought it was a boring picture to you.

It's definitely not a pleasing picture.

However, it is a very interesting and meaningful work in terms of being able to empathize with it.

Is it possible to connect with people who are more than 300 years old.?

Its fun. People's faces are fun too. What does the two people in the middle doing?"

They seem to hold onto each other and fight.

Thats Sumo wrestling. Its a sport where you have to knock your opponent out of the field.

It's like wrestling.

What is the person with a box in his hand handing out.?

"I don't know if hes handing out or not, but probably hes selling a candy."

Candy.?

"yes. Its a hard, sweet snack.

Is it delicious?"

Taffy is delicious. But it can cause cavities and break your teeth, so you have to eat in moderation.

I don't know how delicious it is, but to eat it at the risk of breaking a tooth.

I asked Grandfather looking at the painting.

What are these guys doing?

They are betting who will win the match.

The artist named Kim Hongdo, painted this painting to understand the daily life of the people during that time.

A picture thats a letter from his heart.

It is fun to think about what the hearts and daily lives of the people depicted in the picture will be like, while enjoying the sports.

Its amazing that he was able to be recognized as the best painter even if he drew a Genre painting like this.

"Genre?"

"Yes. Genre paintings are usually said to be of low grade.

Grandpa looks at me strangely.

what.?

"It's difficult for you to understand. Who told you that..? Did Sooji tell you?"

Sooji.? Whose sooji.?

Your Dad."

Theres no other way to explain this, so I just nodded.

Do you even know why they gave the painting such a rating?

I shook my head because I thought it would be suspicious if I said I knew.

Then grandfather started to explain with a smile.

The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of France was built by Louis XIV. He dreamed of a very powerful monarchy and tried to put everything in the country under his control. Art was no exception.

That's right.

He was trying to cultivate painters who praised the king.

That filthy pig, stricken with greed, hoped to become a god just because reigned over France.

All artistic activities were forced in the direction of idolizing him.

As a result, Painters drew a heroic figures that were considered loyal to the king and to the country.

Its shitty.

"Yes. shitty hey! Do not use such bad words.

Hmmm. But still its shitty

I laughed while saying shitty again and grandfather who was glaring at me also started laughing.

"Anyway. The ruins of the French Royal Academy of Fine Arts continue to this day. It dominated the art world at the time, and it was followed in Spain and England, so it is deeply rooted. Its really sad.

Artists a generation ahead of me showed courage in fighting against such a trend.

Although they were ridiculed severely, they fought proudly, and this will became a model for many artists such as me, Lautrec, and Paul Gauguin.

And yet, the evil still continues.

As grandfather said, it is really sad.

How about now?

"Hmm. For example, even now making plaster statues is a teaching method that continues at the Royal Academy of Art. In fact, you don't have to draw such an ideal figure of plaster to describe something accurately.

Grandpa is right.

It stopped only after spitting black spit on the floor.

I got dizzy.

Its going to be a big deal.! uh? If you pick up anything and eat it, you're in trouble! Do you eat it because there is nothing to eat.?

I don't know why he is scolding me like that.

My surprised grandfather took me to the bathroom and washed me.

Even after tidying up the, he continued to emphasize it.

You cant eat that. huh? Promise me.Promise to Grandpa.

Why.why cant I eat it?

It was common in my days as Vincent van Gogh.

To check the state of the paint, you can touch it with your hand or, if necessary, check whether the viscosity or oil has separated with your tongue.

Because its bad for you!!

After thinking about it, I asked.

Pigments are obtained from nature anyway. The oil they put in oil paints is also taken out of what we eat. So whats bad

Grandpa looked at me like I was crazy.

Little Hun, this food is the soot that is left over from burning grass and hardened into stone.

I don't know what's bad.

Besides, if there is no problem with the body even after eating something made out of stone, then no one in this world will starve to death. Dont you think.?

WellIts definitely not good to eat stones.

Moreover Even your favourite Van Gogh died because of eating paint!

"..what?"

I heard an unexpected story.

What are you talking about?

Even if the paint looks pretty, there are some scary things in it. Do you know what lead is?

I dont know.

Shaking my head, grandfather sighed deeply.

Dont even think about eating paint. The mineral that contains lead is very lethal to the human body.

"How is it?"

At first, your gums will hurt and you can't even eat the pizza you like."

Later, the gums hurt even more and you couldn't even chew food properly."

Wait.I have experienced similar symptoms.

At that time, whenever I tried to eat, the bread was so tough and hard that it was possible to eat only a little of it by adding water.

Thats not all? Your stomach will hurt and you will experience anaemia. do you know anaemia? Suddenly, you will lose sight and collapse.

It's a little embarrassing, but these are all symptoms I've experienced.

All this because of eating some paint?

Yes! Most of the artists at that time died of lead poisoning. Beethoven and Van Gogh.

A master famous for his eccentric personality as well as his skills died of lead poisoning.

Did Beethoven also eat paint?

Why is that person eat paint.!?

At that time, sweeteners added to wine contained lead. Beethoven and Van Gogh could have drunk wine. So Hun. you should never drink alcohol when you grow up. Understand?"

I didn't even know what was bothering me, I just felt sad and angry.

Regrettably, I sometimes resented the god for giving him such an ordeal.

But all of this was due to ignorance.

I can not believe it.

Is there anything else caused by lead besides hurting my gums and stomach?

Well! When it gets worse, it touches the peripheral nerves and messes with the inside of the body. Because of that, the body becomes paralyzed, or a mental disorder occurs.

The thing that stole the painting from me was a substance called lead.

I drank it myself, not forced by anyone else.

I died of ignorance

It's stupid and it's self-inflicted.

How stupid i was

Hey, boy. Hun. why are you crying? huh? Did your grandfather make you so scared?"

I shook my head.

I told you because I love you, because I was worried. huh?

Misunderstanding aggravated as he wiped my tears.

If it wasn't for Grandfather, I would have done the stupid thing again, not knowing I was getting hurt.

I have to learn.

I don't want to face an end filled with regret and bitterness like before.

Crayons, coloured pencils, ink.

I don't know how many things I want to do in this limitless world full of different paints and other things I don't know.

When I leave this world as Ko Hun, I will never leave any regret as I did when I was Vincent Van Gogh.