I dream of painting and then I I dream of painting and then I paint my dream –Vincent Van paint my dream –Vincent Van

GoghGogh Please take a Please take a

“Van Gogh” “Van Gogh” packet from the packet from the front table and front table and answer ONLY the answer ONLY the first questionfirst question

The Church at Auvers-Vincent Van Gogh 1890

Vincent Van GoghVincent Van GoghPost-Impressionist ArtistPost-Impressionist Artist

1853-18901853-1890

Van Gogh was born on Van Gogh was born on March 30March 30thth, 1853 in , 1853 in Groot-Zundert, HollandGroot-Zundert, Holland

Van Gogh had three sister and two Van Gogh had three sister and two brothers. His brother Theo would brothers. His brother Theo would become a large part of his life in his become a large part of his life in his later years.later years.

Van Gogh dabbled in various Van Gogh dabbled in various careers in his younger years, careers in his younger years, such as art dealer and such as art dealer and clergymanclergyman

He decided to become an artist at He decided to become an artist at the age of 27 with the financial the age of 27 with the financial support of his brother Theo.support of his brother Theo.

Van Gogh was largely self taught Van Gogh was largely self taught and worked on his skills by copying and worked on his skills by copying prints of artwork and 19prints of artwork and 19thth century century drawing manuals and lesson booksdrawing manuals and lesson books

Letter and sketches by Van Gogh

Van Gogh Van Gogh started with started with figure drawings figure drawings and landscapes. and landscapes. He thought it He thought it was important was important to master black to master black and white and white before moving before moving to colorto color

Nursery on the Schenkweg

The Potato Eaters

By early 1886, he had By early 1886, he had moved to Paris moved to Paris to to live with his brother live with his brother Theo. Here Vincent Theo. Here Vincent was immersed in a was immersed in a centrifuge of modern centrifuge of modern art from the art from the impressionist and post impressionist and post impressionists. Van impressionists. Van Gogh quickly Gogh quickly dropped dropped the dark colors the dark colors he he had used to create had used to create The The Potato EatersPotato Eaters after after discovering the palette discovering the palette to be horrendously out to be horrendously out of date. of date.

Self Portrait with Straw Hat

What changes can you see in Van Gogh’s style of painting from these two works?

18871885

Van Gogh adopted the brighter more vibrant colors with ease and began experimenting with the techniques he saw in the art of the impressionist and post impressionists.

While in Paris, Vincent was acquainted with While in Paris, Vincent was acquainted with various other artists including various other artists including Paul GauguinPaul Gauguin. . Vincent befriended Paul Gauguin and moved to Vincent befriended Paul Gauguin and moved to Arles in 1888 hoping that his new friend would Arles in 1888 hoping that his new friend would join him. join him. Vincent was confident in his new Vincent was confident in his new and highly personal styleand highly personal style and felt that he and felt that he could attribute it to modern art with his could attribute it to modern art with his outlandish new color combinations. outlandish new color combinations.

Self Portrait by Paul Gauguin

Towards the end of 1888, Towards the end of 1888, the first signs of Van Gogh's the first signs of Van Gogh's mental illness began to take mental illness began to take hold. hold. He suffered from He suffered from various types of epilepsy, various types of epilepsy, psychotic attacks, and psychotic attacks, and delusions. delusions. One such One such episode entailed Vincent episode entailed Vincent pursuing Gauguin with a pursuing Gauguin with a knife and threatening him knife and threatening him intensely. Later that day, intensely. Later that day, Vincent returned to their Vincent returned to their house and mutilated his ear. house and mutilated his ear. Vincent was temporarily Vincent was temporarily hospitalized and released to hospitalized and released to find Gauguin swiftly leaving find Gauguin swiftly leaving Arles and his dream of an Arles and his dream of an artistic community artistic community shattered. shattered.

Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear

As the year of 1888 came to an As the year of 1888 came to an end, Vincent traveled to Saint-end, Vincent traveled to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence where Rémy-de-Provence where he he committed himself to an committed himself to an asylumasylum. Here his paintings . Here his paintings became a flood of activity. became a flood of activity.

Starry NightStarry Night which which resides as his most resides as his most popular work and popular work and one of the most one of the most influence pieces in influence pieces in history. history. The swirling The swirling lines of the sky are a lines of the sky are a possible possible representation of his representation of his mental state. This mental state. This same shaken style is same shaken style is visible in all of his visible in all of his work during his time work during his time in the asylumin the asylum

Vincent left Saint-Rémy-de-Vincent left Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in 1890 and Provence in 1890 and began contacting his began contacting his brother Theo. van Gogh brother Theo. van Gogh continued working and continued working and created a number of pieces; created a number of pieces; nearly one painting per nearly one painting per day. day. Vincent viewed his life Vincent viewed his life as horribly wasted, as horribly wasted, personally failed and personally failed and impossible. He impossible. He only sold only sold one paintingone painting in his in his lifetime. On July 27, 1890 lifetime. On July 27, 1890 Van Gogh Van Gogh attempted attempted suicide suicide by shooting by shooting himself in the chest. He himself in the chest. He survived, but survived, but died died two days two days later from the wound later from the wound

Road with Cypress and Star

Possible Mental Possible Mental ConditionsConditions

Temporal Lobe EpilepsyTemporal Lobe Epilepsy Van Gogh was born with a brain lesion, Van Gogh was born with a brain lesion,

this may have been aggravated by his this may have been aggravated by his prolonged use of Absintheprolonged use of Absinthe

Bipolar DisorderBipolar Disorder Van Gogh suffered from bouts of mania Van Gogh suffered from bouts of mania

followed by deep depressions. Bipolar followed by deep depressions. Bipolar disorder may have been the causedisorder may have been the cause

Why Yellow?Why Yellow? Theory: Thujone PoisoningTheory: Thujone Poisoning

In order to counter act his attacks of In order to counter act his attacks of epilepsy, anxiety, and depression, Van epilepsy, anxiety, and depression, Van Gogh drank absinthe, a toxic alcoholic Gogh drank absinthe, a toxic alcoholic drink popular with many artists at the drink popular with many artists at the time. Thujone is the toxin in absinthe. time. Thujone is the toxin in absinthe. High doses of thujone can also cause High doses of thujone can also cause one to see objects in yellow. one to see objects in yellow. Various Various physicians have differing opinions on physicians have differing opinions on whether or not this is what caused whether or not this is what caused

Van Gogh's affinity with yellow. Van Gogh's affinity with yellow.

What are the most important elements of this artwork?