No artist is more famous than Vincent van Gogh. Yet how well is he known? Perhaps not at all. A victim of clichés and platitudes, his art is rarely seen or, to put it differently, the power of its call on us is mostly unheeded. What was he searching for and what did he hope to make possible for us to experience along with him? How, to put it differently, did he love us? Beginning with paintings of the asylum's grounds at Saint-Rémy, we will explore how Van Gogh's art makes the world startlingly present—how he portrayed trees and sky and budding branches in such unflinching, unapologetic terms. An adventure beyond the tried and true, an exploration of hope and despair, the course will take us deeply into Van Gogh's art and his moment. If you are to take one course on Vincent van Gogh, this will be the one.

For students who have previously taken ARTH 01: “The Paintings of Vincent van Gogh,” this course will cover new ground while also revisiting some previously taught content​. Past students are encouraged to join.