When we start a sentence with "Art is . . . " we are in OPINIONLAND.
Van Gogh was NOT famous in his own time. He was known in his own social circle, and admired by his peers, but his work
brought him nothing to live on. He was a man tormented by his own mind.
His biggest supporter was his brother, Theo, who died shortly after him.
Just think of the irony! Brother Theo was an Art Dealer, but he could not get anybody to buy Vincent Van Gogh's paintings!
If it weren't for Vincent's sister-in-law, Johanna, neither you nor I would have ever heard of him or his work.
Johanna had a small baby to support as a widow.
This woman was forced by circumstance to turn things around. She endlessly promoted special showings, and used her family's social
contacts to network and promote Vincent Van Gogh's paintings and letters.
Johanna became a remarkable entrepreneur. This amazing woman gave to the world the story and the legend of Van Gogh.
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Without an audience; without appreciators, without collectors, ART IS NOTHING. It is simply self-expression which lives or dies like
anything else. For every Mozart there are ten thousand other genius composers nobody heard.
For every Van Gogh there are a hundred thousand others who lived and died in obscurity.
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To appreciate great writing you must--absolutely must--read great works.
To appreciate music too, you must immerse yourself in listening to the classics.
To appreciate great art you have to spend a thousand hours exposing your mind to all the known works, and
become conversant with where in the stream of time they emerged and what preceded and followed them.
Otherwise, you cheat yourself, and your personal taste is based on narrow whim.
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BEING FAMOUS is a separate talent.
BEING WEALTHY is a separate venue.
Above all, FINDING YOUR AUDIENCE is everything.
All the above is merely my opinion, your mileage may vary.
