VINCENT VAN GOGH

“I put my heart and my soul into my

work, and have lost my mind in the

process.”

Miss MorganAP Studio Art/AP Art History

Period 1

VINCENT VAN GOGH- WHO WAS HE?

Born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, in North Brabent, Holland, Vincent van Gogh became one of the

world’s most recognized painters- despite only selling one artwork during his lifetime!

Van Gogh’s artworks convey…

•The emotional power of space•The symbolic meaning of color•The physicality of the medium•The sheer beauty & intelligence of his images.

Age 13, c. 1866

- Vincent to Theo

“Instead of trying to depict exactly what is before my

eyes, I am using color more arbitrarily to express

myself forcefully.”

Self-portrait, 1887

OLIVE TREES WITH THE ALPILLES IN THE BACKGROUND

JUNE 1889

“It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which

one should listen to, the feeling for the things themselves, for reality is more important than the feeling for

pictures.”

INSPIRATIONSMany of the inspirations Van Gogh expressed in his art are reflections of the times at large:• The economy changes from an agrarian to an industrial one• People in search of factory work are moving from the farms to the cities•A working-class reality of dank, over-crowded slums and abysmal working conditions• The longing for contact with nature•Experiences of extreme loneliness, alienation, and anonymity within the crowded public life of streets, cafes, bars, restaurants, etc.•Other cultures (Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcuts)

I often think that the night is more alive

and more richly colored than the

day.

- Vincent van Gogh

STARRY NIGHT OVER THE RHONEArles, FranceSeptember, 1888

SELF-PORTRAIT, SEPTEMBER 1889

Vincent van Gogh painted over 30 self-portraits between the years 1886 and 1889. His collection of self-portraits places him among the most prolific self-portraitists of all time.

As the year of 1888 came to an end, Vincent

committed himself to an asylum.

Although van Gogh had been troubled by

mental health issues throughout his life, the episodes became more pronounced during the last few years of his life.

In some of these periods he was unable to paint, a factor which added to the

mounting frustrations of an artist at the peak of his ability.

His depression gradually deepened…

Vincent viewed his life

as horribly wasted,

personally failed &

impossible.

On July 27, 1890 Van Gogh attempted suicide by shooting

himself in the chest.

He survived, but died two days later from the

wound.

Self-portraitSeptember 1889

VASE WITH TWELVE SUNFLOWERS

August, 1888

" I cannot help it that my pictures do not sell.

Nevertheless the time will come when people will

see that they are worth more than the price of the

paint."

-Vincent van Gogh

STARRY NIGHTJune, 1889

IMAGE SOURCES

Slide 1- Microsoft Office Clipart Slide 2-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vincent_van_Gogh_1866.jpg Slide 3-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VanGogh_1887_Selbstbildnis.jpg

Slide 4- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Van_Gogh_The_Olive_Trees..jpg

Slide 7- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Starry_Night_Over_the_Rhone.jpg

Slide 8- http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/2119/Self-Portrait.html

Slide 10- http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/2117/Self-Portrait.html

Slide 11- http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/594/Still-Life:-Vase-with-Twelve-Sunflowers.html

Slide 13 - http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/508/Starry-Night.html

Starry, Starry Night performed by Josh Grobin