Vincent Van Gogh, 1890 In Van Gogh’s rendition of the church in Auvers-sur-Oise, both the sky and the church’s windows appear cobalt blue and equally opaque. In a letter to his sister, he describe the windows as ultramarine. Maybe it’s the reproduction. The rooflines aren’t straight; the perspective isn’t true. Although the church sits in its own shadow, the colors are bright. The actual church is on flat ground, but Van Gogh makes it appear on a rise. The church wrestles with the earth to claim its place on this rise, like sinners struggling to control their sins. Vincent, too, wrestled with the church and won by making it appear cozy and welcoming.
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