Vincent van Gogh

1853-1890 Born in Netherlands Oldest of 6 kids

Many unsuccessful jobs Very poor

Brother Theo supported him

Often didn’t eat much to buy art supplies

1881-1890 almost 900 paintings

20 self-portraits

The Potato Eaters

Considered van Gogh’s first masterpiece

Different from later works Color is duller Before studied

Impressionalism Peasant life and

rural landscapes were a favorite topic for Vincent

Before and After Impressionalism

Dark mudding colors Literal representation of

the church, sky and surroundings

Color is very minimal

• Bright colors • Free forming lines-- wavy and appear to be bending or melting

Sunflowers

Famous for vibrant colors

Notice the different stages of life the flowers create

Many artists have tried to copy

Yellow was Gogh’s favorite color

Signed all his work Vincent

The Bedroom at Arles, 1887

Van Gogh’s bedroom

Used color to express himself Simplify color Resemble rest, sleep

Sent to brother Theo to show where stayed

Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear

Van Gogh had a disease called epilepsy

During one of his fits he went after a friend with a razor

The friend left, but Van Gogh cut his ear with it

He committed self to an asylum

Portrait of Dr. Gachet

Van Gogh’s doctor after spending time in the asylum

Mentally instable Insomnia Van Gogh recognized

this madness as a disease

Van Gogh thought would have painted better without disease

Painting sold for 82.5 million in 1990 Highest payment to that

date

Irises, sold for 53.9 million in 1987

Starry Night

Starry Night over the Rhone

Cafe Terrace at Night

3 famous Starry Night paintings

This adds aspect of people

Stars faded in background

Strong belief that must master drawing then add color

The Red Vineyard

Van Gogh was never famous while he was alive

His brother, Theo bought his paintings

This is the only painting Theo sold while Vincent was alive Sold at auction months

before Vincent died Sold for 400 francs in

Brussels