Grasshoppers and Van Gogh: A Little Buggy Art History

Despite the fact he had no success and made almost no money off of his art before allegedly shooting himself in the gut at 37, we know quite a bit about the painter Vincent Van Gogh. The Dutch painter was the son of a pastor, and actually pursued the ministry himself for several years before discovering his true calling. He was also a teacher and an art dealer before studying painting. At age 27, with the financial support of his younger brother, he began teaching himself to draw and paint. The artwork he is best remembered for now though, came about after he moved to Paris and became friends with several Impressionist artists – Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Pissarro and Gauguin.

A Buggy Starry Night

But was he also an amateur entomologist? Well, not really – or not by choice at least. As his style became brighter and more flowing, he began painting more and more outdoors, where insects would habitually harass him while working. In 1885, he mentioned to his brother that the four canvasses he was sending him (presumably to reduce his debt) had been almost disastrous work as he had to pick more than a hundred flies off them. But, as meticulous as he tried to be, he missed a few. Recently, the conservator at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Missouri found a tiny grasshopper that had apparently gotten trapped in the brushstrokes as Van Gogh painted “Olive Trees” in 1889.

Is There a Bug in YOUR Brush?

We’d like to think things have gotten better since the 1880’s, and in many ways they have. But despite all the improvements in construction and yard care, somehow bugs still manage to get into our homes, often to be found in unusual places. To this day, the only thing that keeps bugs truly at bay is the consistent, professional application of pest solutions on a periodic basis. But you’re never alone. Here at Good News Pest Solutions, our highly-trained, capable staff is available year round to get you started and maintain pest protection for your home and yard.

The Good News

And the one thing that has improved in the last 100 years? Whether you’re dealing with grasshoppers, roaches, termites, bedbugs or mosquitoes – we now have an all-natural, 100% organic treatment to deal with every single one of them. These pest control solutions are safe for your entire family – including your cats, dogs and goldfish. Plus, they’re more effective than the dangerous chemical fixes of the past. The most popular solution we provide to most of our customers from Parrish to Punta Gorda, is our Go Green Plus 3. It offers year-round protection from the majority of creepy crawlies that try to invade your home and garden. And we’re happy to add on our warrantied Termite solution and/or No Bite Zones for small additional fees. What are you waiting for? Do you want archaeologists finding ancient bugs in your home 100 years from now? Or would you rather get a handle on it today? Give us a call!