featured image: EssentialVermeer
DIGEST for Girl in Hyacinth Blue
Chapter one of Girl in Hyacinth Blue is a story about how a painting affects a person’s life, or to be more general, how things take control of human. In the story, the main character Cornelius is a “mild-mannered” person, a “modest dresser” who wears “receding colors,” a math teacher (Chapter 1, Page 1). He is reluctant to talk to most people, as if he is “superior” than anyone else, which makes him barely have friends. But this personality is formed not by nature. It is more of an “invention” – Cornelius tries very hard to make himself invisible in the society. The story unfolds the veil for us, showing why Cornelius would like to suppress his true passion, and choose such a distant character as his exterior.
After a funeral, Cornelius invites the narrator, his colleague who is an art teacher, to see a painting in his house. It’s by Johannes Vermeer. Cornelius is extremely passionate about this painting. “Look. Look at her eye… And look at… See here…” (Chapter 1, Page 4) The eagerness in Cornelius’ speech is not seen very often because he does not talk to people very much. He is eager to show “me” the authenticity of the painting. From “it’s his same window opening inward at the left… the same splash of pale yellow light… the figures in the tapestry on the table… same Spanish chair that he used in eleven canvases…” to layers of paint, to changing shades of colors, to other techniques the painter uses, Cornelius examined every detail to “me.” (Chapter 1, Page 6-7) The contrast between Cornelius’ normal behavior and conversations with the narrator shows that he loves and appreciates this painting, while at the same time he is hiding it from others, because when “I” suggests him to let the authorities to validate the painting, he refuses to do so.
The narrator then shifts from the art teacher to an omni view. (Chapter 1, Page 12) It shows us what happened in Cornelius’ childhood. In a word, Cornelius is from German and his father is a Nazi. The painting is actually “the atrocity of his father’s looting.” (Chapter 1, Page 19) Cornelius could not face this “crime” as well as show others the truth about his family, so he chooses to appreciate the painting, quietly and secretly. As shown in “he lift the painting off the wall… he touched her cheek… he placed his cheek next to her dress.” (Chapter 1, Page 25-26) But why he decides to share the painting with an art teacher (me) now? Maybe after the funeral he realizes the uncertainty and ephemeral nature of life, and he cannot suppress his love for this painting any more – he needs to tell someone who can understand it and who will not attracted by the value of the painting. That is why he chooses to share with “me.”
The narrator shifts back to the art teacher. “I” still doubt the authenticity and Cornelius finally tells “me” the whole story about his family and where the painting comes from. Though Cornelius’ secret is painful to hear and he is suffering, “I” do not feel sympathetic towards him. “Poor fool, ruining his life for a piece of cloth smeared with mineral paste, for a fake, I had to tell myself, a mere curiosity.” (Chapter 1, Page 35) Though “I” am an art teacher and “I” do appreciate beautiful artworks, “I” will not be fooled or intoxicated by art. Appreciating art should be rational — it is life itself that is real, not art. If art is not making one’s life fuller, instead it is useless and agonizing, then it would be better to be destroyed.
This story reminds me of an old Chinese allegory. A landlord receives a vase from his friend. This gift is an antique. It is so precious to him so he worries about it being stolen all the time. He cannot eat well. He cannot sleep well. He cannot enjoy the happiness of receiving the gift. He is ill, instead. One day his son breaks the vase accidentally. Though he is angry with his son, after that he does not need to worry about the vase any more. He also recovers from the illness. This allegory tells us the same thing as what Girl in Hyacinth Blue told us. Art should be a “healthy” supplement, not something that one feels preoccupied with and cannot enjoy the beautiful life.