Vincent van Gogh Comes to Paint China

#06001     118 X 168 cm     oc     2006

In 1990, Dr. Chen created the “Post-Van Gogh Series”-100 powerful paintings in tribute to his favorite artist. The first of the series is called Vincent Coming Home, an imaginative, assumptive scenario in which Chen integrates and transforms Matisse’s Harmony in Red into a welcoming family scene for Van Gogh who in reality, lived a lonely, tragic life. Here, Chen gives his hero a loving wife, preparing supper for Vincent after a long day of painting.

In this painting, Dr. Chen brings Vincent van Gogh to Beijing to witness the exciting arising of China. Van Gogh’s wife in this new artwork is a graceful Chinese lady in a traditional gown, while outside the window; we can see the Temple of Heaven underneath a breezy sky. So here, Dr. Chen’s childhood inspiration comes home to a lovely meal with his Chinese wife after a long day of painting on the plaza of the auspicious Temple.