Tag: Van Gogh

Van Gogh Cuts off his Left Ear

23rd December 1888

On this day the painter Vincent Van Gogh severed all or part of his left ear in a moment of delirium. Van Gogh had moved to Arles earlier that year with the idea, perhaps, of founding an art colony. While he was there, he invited the painter Paul Gauguin to stay with him. Gauguin eventually accepted and the two artists painted together for a while. However, their relationship soon turned sour, and after a bitter argument, Van Gogh severed his left ear with a razor. After bandaging the wound, he wrapped the severed ear in paper and entrusted it to a woman in a brothel that he and Gauguin both frequented. A few days later, Van Gogh was hospitalised with mental infirmity.

looking back

Lettura e ascolto intermediate in inglese: Vincent di Don McLean

Tengo a precisare che la traduzione in italiano offerta qui è studiata per la sua utilità come vicinanza al testo originale e come scelta di vocaboli e non pretende minimamente di avvicinarsi alla bellezza poetica del testo originale.

Starry, starry night
Luccicante notte stellata
Paint your palette blue and grey
Dipingi con tinte di blu e di grigio
Look out on a summer’s day
Ti affacci in una giornata d’estate
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Con occhi che conoscono il buio nella mia anima

Shadows on the hills
Ombre sulle colline
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Disegni gli alberi e i narcisi
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
Cogli la brezza e il freddo dell’inverno
In colours on the snowy linen land
In colori sulla terra di lino innevato

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