The Pursuit of Inspirations

Article by Ahmed Elsaghir

Seeking Inspiration: The Life of Vincent Willem van Gogh

Vincent Willem van Gogh devoted years to mastering drawing and painting, developing a distinctive and instantly recognizable style. He immersed himself in studying composition, colour theory, and the effects of light and shadow. Countless hours were spent nurturing his passion, often working alone late into the night, his hands, arms, and clothes streaked with vibrant paint. Through this relentless dedication, he sought to express his deepest emotions through colour.

Despite his incredible talent, Van Gogh spent much of his life living in obscurity. Society often labeled him as emotionally unstable, and overwhelmed by despair, he tragically took his own life. Yet, his art and emotional depth left an enduring legacy that continues to move and inspire the world. This was the remarkable Vincent Willem van Gogh (30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890).

Unbeknownst to him, the world was beginning to recognise the value of artists’ rights. While he struggled in obscurity, diplomats around the globe convened to define legal protections for creative works. Significantly, in 1886— almost four years before Van Gogh’s death—they adopted the Berne Convention to safeguard literary and artistic works internationally.

Understanding Copyright

The Berne Convention was signed by numerous countries, establishing recognition of artists’ copyrights over their creations. Copyright grants creators the exclusive right to control the reproduction of their works, preventing unauthorized use.

Copyright protection spans a broad spectrum, covering books, films, music, photographs, paintings, and many other forms of artistic and creative expression.

Naturally, the scope and duration of copyright protection vary between countries and depend on the type of work involved. Generally, the first sale of a work ends copyright protection. However, copyright laws often give artists a small share of proceeds from each subsequent resale of their paintings. This is called the “right of pursuit” or “Droit de suite”.

Conclusion

As a result, in some countries, artists continue to benefit financially whenever their paintings change hands after the initial sale.

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