VanGogh Away

Art speaks where words are unable to explain – Threadless Artless Mathiole

Van Gogh was depressed for several years and believed that if he ate yellow paint he would somehow become a happier being; as yellow on the colour wheel is perceived to be a colour of joy, wellbeing and happiness. People however began to think Van Gogh was insane due to the lead in the paint being toxic to human beings if ingested. He believed if he consumed enough of it, he would become this embodiment of happiness and wellbeing. It’s a beautifully tragic and unfortunately toxic display of the effects of mental health. He had thought his only option was to ingest deadly paint in the colour of “happiness” to diminish his inner turmoil and depression.

It’s almost like chaos theory. Stating “If a butterfly flaps its wings at just the right time and place on one side of the world, it can cause the perfect hurricane on other side of the world”. This theory is formed on the concept of chain reactions, in which all life that exists on earth also survives through these chain reactions. It’s an endless loop of co-existence and time repeating itself; as every chain reaction is the previous reaction of another chain reaction. Van Gogh had his own chain reaction; lead paint would be equivalent to diminished depression, however due to its toxicity it was killing him.

Believing what he did, Van Gogh imagined a world without turmoil, torment and depression through the ingestion of yellow lead paint. The chain reactions that followed ended up being more harmful and toxic to himself than I think even he realised. It’s sad to believe one man felt so much anguish and harm that it was easier to potentially die than discuss with anyone. Although in saying that, therapy wasn’t much of an option, so he took matters into his own hands which resulted in harm and lead poisoning. Be cautious of what you choose to create happiness. It may just be your undoing.