The Good Samaritan (after Delacroix) Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

The painting, The Good Samaritan (after Delacroix) by Vincent van Gogh, depicts a man carrying another injured man on his back, with a horse walking beside them. The figures are rendered with thick, swirling brushstrokes and vibrant colors, characteristic of Van Goghs style. The man carrying is leaning forward, his muscles strained, while the injured man is draped over his back, his head slumped and one arm dangling. The injured mans face is pale and drawn, with a bandage wrapped around his head and a red cloth held to his face, suggesting suffering. The horse, a powerful and solid presence, seems to move with a steady gait through the textured landscape.
In the background, the scene is agitated and dreamlike. The trees are contorted, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers, and the overall impression is one of movement and emotional intensity. The ground is depicted with a riot of colors, hinting at the dry, dusty terrain and the arduous journey. To the left, a small, open chest lies on the ground, its contents spilled, perhaps suggesting loss or abandonment. In the far distance, a solitary figure stands, almost lost in the swirling landscape, adding to the sense of isolation or perhaps a witness to the scene.
The subtexts of this painting are rich and multilayered. Most obviously, it illustrates the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, a story about compassion and kindness towards a stranger in need, even from someone considered an outsider. Van Gogh was deeply moved by this parable and its message of selfless altruism, which resonated with his own struggles and his desire to help others.
Beyond the religious narrative, the painting can be interpreted as a reflection of Van Goghs own feelings of isolation and his yearning for connection and empathy. The vulnerable, injured figure could symbolize those who are suffering and in need of help, while the carrying figure represents the potential for human kindness and support. The turbulent landscape might symbolize the artists own inner turmoil and the harshness of the world. The inclusion of the spilled chest could allude to the fragility of material possessions and the importance of spiritual or emotional value over worldly gains. The distant, solitary figure might represent the observer, or perhaps a sense of the vastness of the world and the smallness of individuals within it, highlighting the profound act of the Good Samaritan connecting with and aiding another amidst such a complex existence.