The Ever Present Past

If I could have been born in another era, it would have to be in 19th-century France. In particular, I would love to have been living at the time of post-impressionism, as a contemporary of artists such as Van Gough, Degas, Monet, Cezanne, Renoir, and Seurat.

My chosen profession would be art dealer since this would allow me access to all of the great artists of that period. I can only imagine how wonderful it must have been to have had personal contact with such passionate, intelligent creators at the leading edge of 19th-century modern French art.

I am an empath by nature and I would have given a stipend and solo exhibitions to artists such as Van Gogh to support them on their revolutionary artistic journey. And I would have done everything I possibly could to champion their cause with marketing initiatives. My ultimate aim would have been to find ways for artists to make a living from their art, for them to become self-sufficient.

I think that whole period must have been so exciting and inviting, to be a part of a movement that wanted to sweep all the old ideas away and replace them with new ideas, new perspectives new ways of thinking and seeing the world.

One of the many people skills that I have is the natural ability to get along with all types and classes of people. I am, by nature, equally at home with a peasant as I am with a Lord. I am what you might call a chameleon of social etiquette. And as such, I could blend in with Van Gogh's 'Potato Eaters' as comfortably as I could with the well-to-do taking a stroll on Seurat's 'La Grand Jatte'.

I also think that I would have liked to have been an artist as well. And so I like to imagine all the learning I could have enjoyed with masters such as Cezanne or Degas, for example. To have rubbed shoulders with such eminent artists and to have learned, not only how to paint, but how to see, is so far beyond my wildest dreams.

Below is a letter by my alter ego Pierre to my dear friend and colleague Jacques, relating to the above scene captured by Georges Seurat. My other self is at the forefront on the right.

My Dear Jacques

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, a perfect day for a relaxing stroll around La Grand Jatte. My lovely wife and I put on our Sunday best, complete with a top hat for myself and a parasol for my wife. I must say, it was very pleasant to mingle with the local populace on the verdant banks.

We stopped under a large tree for some shade and to take in a view of the boating lake. I drew softly on my Figurado cigar as my mind drifted to this evening's meeting in a Parisian cafe with some local artists I have recently befriended.

One of life's great pleasures as an art dealer is the connections one has. Of late there has been a passionately felt movement in art to break away from the restrictions of the classical art of the past, and even to create some distance from Impressionism. I must say I find it all very exciting.

In the work of artists such as Van Gogh, I see a more introspective, emotional view of life and the natural world. And our friends Degas, Renoir, and Seurat, all have their very own particular perspectives on life which challenge tradition.

One of the many ideas I have as a dealer is to support these artists as much as I possibly can. I am hopeful of introducing a stipend for the most financially challenged of them, such as Van Gogh, along with a series of mixed and solo exhibitions.

Anyway, the evening meeting went well overall, though it did get a little heated when Van Gogh and Gauguin went at it hammer and tongue about various matters. Our dear friend Gauguin thought Vincent was somewhat slapdash in his manner of painting, whereas Gauguin is ultra-methodical and so clean and tidy. And then they moved on to whether it is best to paint from imagination (Gauguin) or nature (Van Gogh). I think they both have a point and need to give each other due respect for their own individual ideas. The most important thing is for one to follow one's own passion and paint from the heart.

Hopefully, we can get both of them a place at the annual Salon which shows the best that we have and perhaps help to generate some significant interest, enough to sell a few paintings.

Yours faithfully

Pierre.