Van Gogh Reborn!

Chapter 193: The Painter (1)

Chapter 193 The Painter (1)

Kim Jiwoo and Blanche Fabre avoided the crowded tourist spots and settled in a relatively quiet cafe.

Thank you so much. I didnt expect you to walk this far.

Its okay.

A curt answer came back.

Kim Jiwoo replied with a smile.

What do you want to drink?

Warm milk, please.

Kim Jiwoo ordered the drinks and looked at Blanche Fabre carefully.

Her blue eyes were smooth like glass and did not waver at all.

Shes so cute.

She sat calmly without any sign of nervousness.

Kim Jiwoo was relieved that she was proficient in English.

I told you on the way, but the article will be published in both Korean and English. If you give me your contact information, Ill send you the link. Im embarrassed to say this, but it might be hard to find. Haha.

I know.

Huh?

I wanted to meet you once.

Me?

Kim Jiwoo blinked.

He couldnt easily understand why the French artist wanted to meet him.

I read the article introducing Go Hoon.

Oh.

The drinks were placed between them.

Blanche Fabre took out a sugar stick from the table and tore it.

The sugar melted in the warm milk.

Go Hoon will revive the art world, you said. I wanted to hear more about it.

Blanche Fabre picked up another sugar stick.

Kim Jiwoo, who had arranged the seat with the intention of interviewing her, hesitated for a moment.

I think its already proven. From the Whitney Biennale to the Art Nouveau Competition. Go Hoon achieved so much in just a year. His work changed the voting trends of the competition.

Blanche Fabre put in the second sugar.

You think the same as Henri Marso.

Kim Jiwoo tilted his head and asked.

Does popularity lead the art world?

Blanche Fabres tone was somewhat challenging.

A strong will was rising from her clear eyes.

Kim Jiwoo, who realized that the young painters question was not a simple competitive spirit, approached the topic seriously.

I think so in many ways.

In what ways?

Popularity reflects the times. The works that project what the times most desperately want are loved.

What about the works that were not recognized in those times?

They were not recognized.

Then do the unrecognized works have no value?

Kim Jiwoo did not avoid the straight gaze that looked at him.

No.

Blanche Fabre took a breath and picked up a new sugar stick.

She likes sweet things.

Kim Jiwoo thought of introducing her as someone who likes sweet things and continued.

There are many cases where artistic value is recognized even if it is not recognized by the public. There are cases where they are belatedly highlighted. Like Vincent van Gogh.

Blanche Fabre silently handed him a sugar stick.

It was her own kindness.

But that was also thanks to the people who recognized van Gogh. Like Klimt or the people who loved van Gogh later.

Artistry and popularity cannot be separated. Even if you pursue art purely, I think its meaningless if there is no one who recognizes it.

Blanche dissolved the sugar in the milk without a word.

On the contrary, if it affects even one person, the story will change.

Kim Jiwoo dissolved the sugar that Blanche gave him in his coffee and continued the conversation.

Its undeniable that the works that influence more people create a big trend. Thats why I believe Go Hoon can be that person.

Blanche thought Kim Jiwoo was different from other fools who pursued fame, money, and popularity.

She opened her mouth as she tore the fourth sugar stick.

Henri Marso is like that now.

Kim Jiwoo thought the same.

There was no one who caused such a big wave in the art world as Henri Marso in recent years.

Everyone else is just a decoration to him. Even if you look at <Beauty>.

Kim Jiwoos eyes lit up as he recalled that Blanche had said <Beauty> was Henri Marsos work.

You said Henri Marso painted <Beauty>. Why do you think so?

Hes the only one who can paint such a picture.

How? Whats the point?

I just think so.

Kim Jiwoo was a bit flustered by the vague answer.

You seem confident. Dont you have a reason?

I felt Henri Marso.

Kim Jiwoo paused as he tried to dig deeper.

If he excluded other external factors and looked at <Beauty> itself, he felt plausible.

He couldnt describe it, but the self-love and pride of a superhuman figure under the sublime light seemed to remind him of Henri Marsos silhouette.

I will surpass him.

Kim Jiwoo raised his head at Blanches sudden declaration.

What?

I will paint a picture that will make Henri Marso himself feel that way.

It was too much to take it as a young painters challenge.

Considering the conversation he had with her before, he couldnt dismiss it as a simple idea of surpassing Henri Marso in popularity.

Blanche started to drink the milk with five sugars.

***

Blanche Fabre.

Kim Jiwoo spun his pen as he looked at the empty seat where she had sat.

She was different from what the media had introduced.

The press highlighted her doll-like appearance and quirky personality, but Kim Jiwoo felt a strong will for art from her.

She took art more seriously than anyone else.

Was she bullied?

Kim Jiwoo was surprised as he searched for articles related to Blanche Fabre.

It was the content of an interview with her parents by the media.

Blanche Fabre, who had a hard time getting along with her friends since she was young because of her eccentric personality, collected and drew her favorite insects and spent her childhood.

She didnt look like that.

She didnt show any closed-off behavior or look intimidated.

She just seemed to have some kind of competitive spirit against Henri Marso, who was loved by most people.

She seemed to want to prove her worth to Henri Marso, who charmed everyone.

Shes beautiful.

Kim Jiwoo looked at Blanche Fabres works.

Even Kim Jiwoo, who hated creatures with more than six legs, felt that Blanches works were beautiful.

Especially, the indescribable odd colors had a uniqueness that could not be found in anyones or any work.

Thats impossible.

She was shocked to find out that Blanche Fabres works were made by sticking several insects together.

Blanche Fabres masterpiece <Friend> was a work that shaped a large golden tortoise beetle by sticking several dead golden tortoise beetles on a canvas.

She explained that she made it hoping to comfort her sadness and be with them forever after the leaf beetles she raised died.

Did she make all the other works like this?

Kim Jiwoo looked for Blanche Fabres other works.

Most of them were oil paintings, and there were not many cases like <Friend>.

He wondered if he should be glad that Blanche didnt lose many friends often.

She participated in the competition.

Kim Jiwoo nodded.

He had been looking for various works and focusing on the masterpieces that could be featured in the special issue, but today he wanted to take a closer look at what Blanche Fabre had made.

Kim Jiwoo got up with his luggage, paid, and went outside.

Blanche Fabre was standing in front of him.

He was surprised because quite some time had passed since he went outside.

Who are you waiting for?

Blanche Fabre turned around and raised her head.

I was going to go back to where I was before.

Before?

I came back.

Kim Jiwoo blinked.

A maze?

Kim Jiwoo laughed at Blanche Fabres words.

**

Dont worry and have fun.

He left various things to the reliable Bang Taeho and went out to enjoy the competition with his grandfather and Cha Si-hyun.

Some reporters recognized him and asked if he painted <Beauty>, but it wasnt too uncomfortable to walk around.

Hoon!

He turned his gaze at the familiar voice and Kim Jiwoo was waving his hand high.

The weird kid he met last time was with him.

He didnt seem to get lost today.

Hello, teacher. Was it Si-hyun? Youre cute today too.

Hi.

Unlike the lively Kim Jiwoo, Blanche Fabre was bland.

Cha Si-hyun, who was afraid of Blanche, stuck to his side and only stuck out his face.

Did you interview?

Yeah. Im on my way back.

Together?

Yeah. It turned out that way. Haha!

They seemed to have become close.

It wouldnt be too hard with Kim Jiwoos sociability.

Did you see it?

Fabre asked bluntly.

What?

Mine.

He shook his head and narrowed his eyes.

Arent you curious what your colleague made?

Colleague?

You said you would beat Henri Marso.

He hesitated for a moment, not remembering when he made such a promise.

Come to think of it, he seemed to have said something like that when he first met him, that he had to compete with Henri Marso.

Kim Jiwoos eyes sparkled and he rushed in.

Really? You two agreed to do it together? Whats your name? Kaka-pa?

Blanche Fabre frowned.

She probably didnt understand Korean and only heard the word kaka.

No. I never did that. Hes talking by himself.

Huh? Really? Fabre, he said no, what do you think?

Dont you want to?

Its not that I dont want to. Im close with Marso. I have no reason to fight him.

Blanche stared at me.

I dont know why he is hostile to Marso, but maybe he misunderstood something.

He must have said something rude.

Dont hate him too much. His personality and speech are rotten, but his heart is good. Tell me if he said anything to you. Ill scold him.

Blanche Fabre shook her head.

She looked very angry with her mouth shut.

Dont pretend you dont know.

Pretend?

You already won.

I dont know why hes saying this.

If I try to understand, it might be because <Beauty>, which is known to have been painted by me, is in first place.

You seem to have a misunderstanding, but I didnt paint Beauty.

Henri Marso painted it, right?

Huh?

He was the first person to be so sure that <Beauty> was Henri Marsos work.

Then I get it. The person who got the most votes right now is Henri Marso.

Blanche Fabre shook her head.

That golden color. The complementary color arrangement. You influenced him. Marso didnt paint like that before.

Kim Jiwoo looked at me and Blanche Fabre with interest.

Ill do it like you someday.