Sunflowers

A still life and a note of gratitude.

I must make up for lost time now. I must work hard, but just when one has left the lost illusions behind, work becomes a necessity, and one of the few pleasures that are left. This gives me a great quiet and calmness.

Vincent van Gogh

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Gratitude

Dear reader, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you. Your unwavering support and encouragement have been instrumental. As we embark on another week, I would like to remind you of the power of perseverance and hard work. May your work bring you quiet and peace. Let us strive to maintain a positive perspective. May we meet every challenge with determination as we stay focused on our goals. Remembering always, failure is not fatal, success is not everything, and it is the courage to reach for excellence that counts.

The still life below titled Sunflowers is special for a number of reasons. For one, they were, for Vincent, a symbol of gratitude. The sunflower, to painters of the time, was seen as a rough and unrefined subject. I wonder if perhaps Vincent saw a bit of himself in that corse beauty and why he wanted to be known for his paintings of them.

Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1887. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.