Communicating with Vincent, before 'Selfies'

The problem with the "hoardes" of people, especially "selfie" takers, in today's museums is that they stand in front of a painting, with their backs to the work, looking up at a tiny screen and trying to capture themselves next to, or in front of, the work! This is NOT appreciation!

An example, years ago, in Paris, before the Musée d'Orsay, I was in the Jeu de Paume museum. There was the self portrait of Van Gogh, hanging on a wall, all alone, staring at me, as I turned a corner. I was transfixed. Could not move! It was as though he was physically there and was exposing his soul to ME! I stood, undisturbed, looking with tears running down my cheeks. Moved by the experience.

He was not surrounded by hoardes of people covering him up, and facing out towards me, trying to get their mugshots with the painting in a tiny LED screen for looking at later!

My experience could not happen today. I remember it vividly and can still feel the electrical shock up and down my spine when I saw the work. When I communed with Van Gogh, across space and time. When I felt all his creativity, pain, anguish. Where he talked to me silently. To ME! Not to anyone else. Just ME! The two of us together.

No hoardes of people taking selfies will ever have that experience. 

Today, there is no communion between you and the artist. It's not possible, because of all the crazy idiots taking pictures, instead of experiencing the art. The magic. The transcendence.

I am so pleased to have lived when I could do that. And not be interfered with by jostling stangers who do not experience the actual moment. And will never have the experience of communing with Vincent.