Monet’s Lilies.
Vincent’s Sunflowers.
Salvador Dali’s Melting Clocks.
These are the classic icons of the art world that we often come across in our daily lives, in forms other than the stretched canvas. These iconic masterpieces are so popular that they represent the art-world to the world. But there are many more paintings and work by the same masters that, I’d say, are far more captivating, beautiful and awe-inspiring. 

Almond Blossoms Oil Painting by Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890). Oil on Canvas - 73.5 X 92 cm

 Vincent Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms is one such masterpiece. Having studied Van Gogh at length, his works, life, including closer to his life fiction, I am surprised how I missed out on this classic painting that tells me a lot more than biography on him would.  Guess I missed the Almond Blossoms midst Sunflowers, Irises, Open Fields and the portraits. 

One fine afternoon, I chanced upon Almond Blossoms. Strange that I saw this painting on TV on Art Beat on NDTV Good Times. Yes, my jaw dropped then. 

Almond Blossoms came across as a complete surprise as most of Van Gogh’s paintings were known for melancholy and loneliness. Painted upon good tidings of the birth of his nephew, Almond Blossoms is an unusual piece from Van Gogh’s collection. This turquoise and ivory masterpiece seems like a breath of fresh air in Vincent’s’ as well as our lives. 

No one can help but admire the beauty of the panting. Watching Almond Blossoms is like having a conversation in your mind. What draws and trains the eye are not the ivory white blossoms, but the knots and gnarls of the branches in simple brush strokes.

Almond Blossoms branches are twisted and gnarled like a complicated mind with few blossoms of hope. I wonder if it is my imagination and my bent of mind going there instead of landing on the feather blossoms. In simple brush strokes, Van Gogh had managed to complete a true picture of the moment. The myriad expressions he must have felt, at that one moment, are for us to experience. 

A sudden departure from his color palette, strokes and hues, Van Gogh has conjured up an entirely different painting. It shows how much gloom was in his life and a piece of small news made him paint in a different way, conveying a rare emotion that he felt. Wonder how Van Gogh’s paintings would have been if he was a happy person. 

His limited color palette is another surprise. His turquoise blues, sepias, white, pink, black, and greens are nothing but born of his color mixing mastery. Something tells me that Vincent must have ran out of colors while he painted it and therefore we can across this rare muted color palette with many tones in between – making Almond Blossoms an absolute rare one. 

The innate simplicity of the branches and the brush strokes, the amount of color on the brush, are all to engrossing to mull over. Almond Blossoms is a painting you can quietly stare at without a lump in your throat but with a lot more going on in your head. Many art lovers who have seen this painting live have said to have felt mixed emotions watching it. 

Vincent van Gogh Stichting, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam now houses this masterpiece. If I ever get to goto Amsterdam, it will be to see Almond Blossoms amongst the other masterpieces. I guess I would need at least a week to spend my time in the museum. Here is short description of the painting in the museum website: 

On January 31, 1890, Theo wrote to Vincent of the birth of his son, whom he had named Vincent Willem. Van Gogh, who was extremely close to his younger brother, immediately set about making him a painting of his favorite subject: blossoming branches against a blue sky. The gift was meant to hang over the couple’s bed. As a symbol of this new life, Vincent chose an almond tree, which blooms early in southern regions, announcing the coming spring as early as February. 

True to his nature, Vincent Van Gogh had unknowlingly created this masterpiece. He died the same year. Isn’t this painting a glimpse of, perhaps, one happy moment he savored before his death? 

The best book that I came across on Van Gogh, is Irving Stone’s Lust for Life which I would recommend you to read it if you want to understand his paintings more.

There are the incredibly profound yet the silliest words penned by this lady who intrigued me the first time I saw her on television. Simran Bhargava is no stranger to anyone anymore. Her show on NDTV Good Times, One Life to Love, is one of the best lifestyle talk shows on Indian television.

Simran Bhargava at a Book Event (Photo Credit - Prabhas Roy)

Simran anchors for this work-life-balance kind of a show that deals with many topics that the current generation identifies with – Money, stress, work balance, spirituality, burnout, health, alternative therapies, books, arts, art of living, and more. Her style of presenting has been applauded as zara-hatke and continues to touch millions of viewers from all parts of the globe.

Serious insights, little humor, active listening and a million-dollar-smile are the trademarks of her show. Be it my tired colleague, my jhola-wallah friend, or my bosses, all are in awe to this elegant lady who has got the eyeballs and the TRPs right.

This makes me wonder – what makes her so special?

When I first saw the show, she stood out more than anything or anyone else. The show topics were unusual, the story board was not sleek enough, she did look like the typical show anchor, she was not conventionally dressed, and she was talking too much sense… how unconventional and how imperfect is that!

And that’s exactly what makes Simran Bhargava my favorite – one of best hostess in the Indian television industry. Watching her on TV does not feel like watching TV.

There is an immediate connection with Simran, as if we have known her all along. Is it to do with her way of talk, words, looks, dress sense, expressions, flashy smile revealing too many teeth or the whole bundle? We don’t care any less. I think we connect with her because she is imperfect.

She comes across as honest in every topic she covers. There is sincerity in purpose, which we seldom come across in our daily lives. She goes beyond the working-for-a-living concept by stirring in a bit more soul in her work.

We like the program because it not as jazzy as others and is a little less air brushed. We like her show because we too want to hear what her guests have to say. We like the laziness with which the show meanders from start to conclusion, leaving us delightfully enlightened. Her words and sentences strike an immediate chord with us. Most of the times she always says what was always known but unsaid.

The first time I saw one life to love, I was quite intrigued by the over-the-top anchor trying too hard to listen and make sense of what was being said. A little later when she responded back with her understanding of the topic and her addition to the gyan, it was more than obvious that this lady knew exactly what was being discussed and that she can speak her mind too. I liked her in the first episode itself. Even today when I am surfing channels (which I do), I make it a point to pause a lot longer than usual to catch the glimpse of the lady in question and the topic being discussed.

When I realised that the show topics were just too right for the emerging audience, I wanted to know more about her and if I can get to see more of her somewhere. Random Googling threw  disappointing results leading me nowhere. Wish I knew more of this wonderfully reserved lady. But hang on, what I did discover was that she was a famous columnist writing for the Financial Express. Good. Now, what did she write? Googled again.

It was quite a long time since I came across some good read and Simran’s writing just delighted me to the core. Her selection of topics and her style of writing leave me deeply impressed.

I was happy to read her past articles and read them again and again. That was when I realised what a wonder-power-house of talent she is. A case in point is her famous article on Coffee called In Search Of A Perfect Cup Of Coffee. It is such a joy to read it. Does not matter if you love or hate coffee, you will end up loving her for her love for the cuppa. I simply adore the way she puts her thoughts on paper. I hope to collect more of her works in future.

I guess Simran’s writing style mantra would be: Take one topic at a time. Love it. Live it. Love over it. Do it completely. Then put it on paper. Reading her articles is pleasure… which we do not get as often as we like. I guess I can never have enough of her writing.

Longing to return to roots, smell the jasmine flowers, feel the earth, walk barefoot, go-hand-in-hand, are some of the things I can associate Simran with. Her simple style of writing and presenting endears one and all. I am glad that her education in Stanford and her stints at the leading houses like Cosmopolitan, Financial Express, etc., have not ruined her. Simple and down-to-earth – Simran Bhargava is the quinssential what-you-see-is-what-you-get person. I do not think there is another facet of her, any less beautiful than this.

For now, Simran Rocks! I wish her good luck, good health, happiness and peace. I hope that I get to see more of her.

To me, Simran will always remain – a beautiful mind.

Here are some of the assorted articles by Simran Bhargava that I found on the web. I hope the links are correct/ no copyrights violated and that the works are indeed hers. Happy Reading!

Simran in Search Of A Perfect Cup Of Coffee

Simran’s musings – A Life-Changing Period Of Doing Nothing

Simran Bhargava in conversation with Deepak Chopra about Love

The Afternoon Apathy Syndrome by Simran Bhargava

Simran’s powerpoints on Bringing Business Presentations To Life

From Just A Short Decade Ago by Simran Bhargava

Simran Bhargava voices on The Power Of Speaking Well

Simran Bhargava’s take on The Great Indian Wedding Tamasha

The Art Of Personal Energy Management – by Simran Bhargava

If you come across any more exciting reads, please let me know ) Thanks.