My favorite one-eared preacher
Posted July 18, 2006
Ask people to sum up Vincent Van Gogh and you're likely to hear: Gifted, One-Eared, Dutch, Painter, Nuts. The non-politically-correct consensus is that Van Gog was brilliant, but crazy.
More than a century after his death, however, some Christians are reevaluating the impoverished painter. In his artwork, they say not just starry nights, but soul-stirring theology. Art-loving theologians maintain Van Gogh was a prophet with a paint brush who allows us to catch a glimpse of the divine.
Yeah, it sounded a little far-fetched to me, too. But then I began reading "The Shoes of Van Gogh", by Virginia Commonwealth University Professor Cliff Edwards and within a few thousand words he had convinced me.
"Shoes of Van Gogh", published by the Crossroad Publishing Company in 2004, is the most beautiful book I have encountered all year.
Edwards convincingly illustrates the impact that faith had on Van Gogh, how Christian teachings shaped his worldview and his canvases. Van Gogh was the son of a Dutch Reformed pastor. As a child, his goal was not to paint, but to preach. However, his poverty prevented him from pursuing the college education required of the church's clerics.
For a time, he served as a missionary, but was unable to win the backing of his denomination, who questioned his fitness. Unable to find a pulpit, he found an easel instead and revolutionized the art world.
"Shoes of Van Gogh" is an incredible book, so good that I had to pause half-way through it and tell you about it. I will write a fuller summary -- and hopefully post some links to his artwork -- once I have finished.