Portrait of Père Tanguy 1887

Here we see Vincent van Gogh's sketch of "Portrait of Père Tanguy." Van Gogh rendered this portrait in his distinctive style, in which there are multiple flying silhouettes of birds in the background. Birds carry a wealth of symbolic weight. In ancient Greece, they were messengers of the gods, and in Christianity, they often represent the soul's ascent. Yet, observe here, in the sky behind Tanguy, they are almost like swarms of bats. Historically, such flocks can evoke unease, signalling times of plague or portending ill omens. Consider how these avian symbols, once divine, have undergone a transformation. The birds in Van Gogh's rendering, are no longer solely benevolent. They've absorbed the anxieties of the modern age, reflecting perhaps a deeper, subconscious dread of the unknown future. These potent symbols continue their cyclical journey through art, evolving and adapting. Their presence reminds us that art is not just a mirror but an active carrier of cultural memory, engaging our emotions and subconscious on a profound level.