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Pencil drawings
28-02-2023 - Café Terrace at Night, Place du Forum - Vincent Van Gogh 1888
The idea of creating this
drawing came to me one evening after a dinner with my students in Saluzzo while
I was accompanying a colleague home. An alley appeared dark, with lighting very
similar to that of Van Gogh's painting, which I reproduce here in pencil...
I often wonder when I observe photos and paintings of the past, especially those
from the 1800s, what were the thoughts, plans, words of those people depicted
and immortalized for eternity. Ideas now buried in time but extremely alive in
that past period. It is clear that the life revolving around that lively place
for the people present at the time and those of today in any modern inn are not
so different!
The nineteenth century of the last century is an extraordinary period culturally
from every point of view. Sometimes I happen to go to Turin and I always try to
take the opportunity to lean on the counter of some historic bar for a quick
coffee, to imagine a bit of that 'ancient' atmosphere and then quickly run away
towards the commitments of life.
It is interesting to note how the artist dedicated much effect to the stars or
the nocturnal illumination provided by the light of candles and oil lamps. It
really makes you think, because these are peculiarities that attract me very
much to Van Gogh.
How strange the events of life can be, for a man so opposed in his time as Van
Gogh was, and now many facts and places thanks to him have become extremely
famous. Going to Arles and positioning oneself exactly where the artist was to
create this work, with the same view, must be something very exciting!
Some shots during the creation phase...
