VINCENT & THEO Retrospective

VINCENT & THEO examines the relationship between celebrated Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (Tim Roth) and his younger brother Theo (Paul Rhys), a successful art dealer, whose support enabled Vincent to devote his life to painting. Though Theo seemingly held the power to propel his brother’s career forward, he was helpless, bound by his own conflicts with art and commerce. Altman presents the historical facts almost without comment, ruminating instead on the laborious act of creation. This evokes van Gogh’s own role as creator, where a masterpiece — a painting of seemingly endless fields of sunflowers — only has as much value as the public bestows upon it, and all discussion of art is of money. – Malin Kan