VINCENT VAN

GOGH
(1853 – 1890)
Post Impressionist
Dutch painter
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Life
• Born in Holland on March 30, 1853. Vincent had 5 siblings 3 sisters and 2 brothers.
• He was the son of a pastor, brought up in a religious and cultured atmosphere. He was highly
emotional, lacked self-confidence and struggled with his identity and with direction. He
believed that his true calling was to preach the gospel.
• He worked unsuccessfully as a clerk in a bookstore, an art salesman, and as a preacher for
miners in the Borinage , Belgium.
• Between 1860 and 1880, he finally decided to become an artist.
• He drifted into ill health and solitude before taking up painting in 1881, having moved back
home with his parents.
• In 1886, he went to Paris to join his brother Théo, the manager of Goupil's gallery. In Paris.
Here Van Gogh studied with Cormon, met Pissarro, Monet, and  Gauguin.   
• His style became fully realised during his stay in Arles in the south of France in 1888. During
this period he broadened his subject matter.
•  His career ran a little over a decade during that time he produced an astonishing amount of
work: about 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings.
• Van Gogh was unsuccessful during his lifetime, and was considered a madman and a failure.
He suffered from psychotic episodes and delusions and though he worried about his mental
stability, he often neglected his physical health, did not eat properly and drank heavily. 
• He spent time in psychiatric hospitals and after years of mental illness and poverty he finally
committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest at the age of 37.
• His reputation began to grow in the early 20th century as elements of his painting style came
to be incorporated by the Fauves and German Expressionists.
• He attained widespread critical, commercial and popular success over the ensuing decades,
and is remembered as an important but tragic painter, whose troubled personality typifies
the romantic ideal of the tortured artist. 
 Vincent Van Gogh and Theo Van Gogh

• Theo was Van Gogh’s younger brother. Theo van Gogh was an art dealer and provided his brother
with financial and emotional support, and access to influential people on the contemporary art
scene.
• They had a close bond, Van Gogh moved in with him in Paris in 1886, living in an apartment in
Montmartre.
• Theo constantly encouraged his brother to became an artist. Without any proper training, or even
having open artistic talent. Van Gogh doubted his abilities, and was supported in this doubt by his
parents. However, Theo continued to push Vincent forward and supported him financially.
• Theo encouraged Vincent to explore Modern art leaving behind his sombre dark palette in favour of
a brighter more energetic one. He put him in touch with his Artist friends in Paris.
• The outcome would be the creation of a master of art, who evolved from his doubtful shell into a
brilliant but besieged mind very rapidly.
• They exchanged hundreds of letters and most of what is known of Vincent's thoughts and theories of
art, are recorded in the hundreds of letters they exchanged from 1872 until 1890.
• Theo died aged 33 6 Months after his brother who was aged 37. On their deaths Theo’s wife
released the letters which were later published.
• Vincent's letters are eloquent and expressive and have been described as having a "diary-like
intimacy", and read in parts like autobiography and held many beautiful sketches.
• The 2 brothers are buried along side one another in Auvers-sur-Oise, which is in the northwest
suburbs of Paris.
Van Gogh the Legacy
• Vincent van Gogh is one of the most well-known post-impressionist
artists, for whom colour was the chief symbol of expression.
• He only sold one piece when he was alive.
• Van Gogh's finest works were produced in less than three years in a
technique that grew more and more impassioned in brush stroke, in
symbolic and intense colour, in surface tension, and in the movement and
vibration of form and line. Van Gogh's inimitable fusion of form and
content is powerful; dramatic, lyrically rhythmic, imaginative, and
emotional, for the artist was completely absorbed in the effort to explain
either his struggle against madness or his comprehension of the spiritual
essence of man and nature.
 • From 1880 to 1885, Van Gogh began working as an artist in earnest.
• He was influenced not only by the great Dutch Masters from the Hague School such as Anton Mauve

Early who generally made use of relatively sombre colours.

• but also by the realist painters of the French Barbizon school painters such as Jean-Francois Millet, who

influences:
had become quite famous across Europe for his renditions of peasant life.
• Van Gogh began painting and he forcibly modelled his style after Millet. 
• Van Gogh was a cousin by marriage of Anton Mauve, Van Gogh welcomed tuition from Mauve, who he
admired. Mauve did not approve of Van Gogh’s relationship with a prostitute and Van Gogh didn’t take
criticism well and as a result they had a turbulent relationship .

Jean Francois Millet: The Angelus. Anton Mauve: The Return of the Flock.
 • Van Gogh's palette consisted mainly of dark earth tones, particularly dark brown. His brother Theo

Early commented that his work was too sombre to be marketable and encouraged him to explore modern art,
particularly Impressionism for its bright, colourful paintings.

work
• This early Dutch period has sombre-tones and sharp light. It is genre paintings of which the most famous
of Van Goghs work is “The Potatoe Eaters” 1885.
• Light parts are concentrated and thick, shadows thin and shining, there is a play of light and dark tone,
https://www.youtube.com/watch and the use of a limited colour palette was typical.
?v=_HinBYpuaiA
• Vincent, although working with a dark palette, was experimenting with subtle colour theory, which he
describes to his brother theo.
•  In that year van Gogh went to Antwerp where he discovered the works of Rubens and purchased many
Japanese Prints.
 Influence of Japanese woodblock prints in 1885
• Japanesery was the term Vincent used to express
the influence of Japanese Art.
• Van Gogh's interest in Japanese ukiyo-e prints
dates from his time in Antwerp, where he used
them to decorate his studio.
• Van Gogh, began to collect these cheap woodblock
prints.
• For a while Vincent and his brother Theo dealt in
these prints, and they eventually amassed
hundreds of them.
• There defining features were ordinary subject
matter. A distinctive cropping of their
compositions. Bold and assertive outlines. Absent
or unusual perspective, flat regions of uniform
colour, uniform lighting.
• Absence of Chiaroscuro and their emphasis on
decorative patterns.
Video’s to watch: • One or more of these features can be found in
https://www.youtube.com/ numbers of Vincent's paintings from his Antwerp
watch?v=Ld1lDm56dfY period onwards.
https://www.youtube.com/ • Opposite is a print by Hiroshige from 1857, and a
watch?v=tZbDL44O1yw copy by Vincent in 1887.
Van Gogh’s move to Paris 1886
• Although Vincent and Theo had discussed the future possibility of living together in Paris, Theo's
answers had been somewhat vague and evasive, prompting a desperate, exhausted, and sick
Vincent to arrive in Paris unannounced in March 1886.
• He sent a letter to Theo by messenger apologizing for the surprise and telling Theo to meet him
at the Louvre.
• After Van Gogh’s move to Paris he became influenced by the impressionist and post-
impressionists, looking at their techniques, style and colours and matt finished paintings.
• There was a gradual change from the sombre mood of his work in the Netherlands to a far more
varied and expressive approach as he began introducing brighter colour into his work.
• Having met the new Impressionist painters, he tried to imitate their techniques; he began to
lighten his very dark palette and to paint in the short brush strokes of the Impressionists’ style.
He used complementary colours and began using unusual perspectives.
• His circle of friends included Camille Pissarro, Henri Toulouse Lautrec, Paul Gauguin, Emile
Bernard, Paul Signac among others.
• Unable to successfully copy the style, he developed his own more bold and unconventional
style.
Early Days in Paris
Vincent is beginning to move away from his dark somber palette.
He begins using small dabs of paint employing shorter strokes. During this time we see
Fleeting, spontaneous glimpses of street scenes. He makes use of complementary colours
in the shadows.
At this time he also produces, still lifes, portraits, self portraits, friends and acquaintances.

Roofs in Paris, Oil on Canvas( 1886) Le Moulin de Blute-Fin (1886) from the Le Moulin de la
Galette and Montmartre series'.
Evolution of Van Goghs Style: • He painted many still life paintings of
Van Gogh transformed the subject matter with his use of colour and the application flowers, experimenting with colour, light
of paint. and techniques he learned from several
different modern artists before moving on
to other subjects.
• He is well known for his brushstokes of
thickly laid-on paint. This technique is called
Impasto.
• When an artist lays a thick layer of paint on
the canvas, the brushstrokes become more
noticeable, adding a special texture to
the painting.
Still life with lemons 1887 • Vincent liked to use a thick, undiluted flat
colour with a brush or a palette knife.
• Vincent began to suggest form with his
brushstrokes.
• He experimented with changing the
consistency of the oil paint to get a thin
Matt finish which is also evident in his
friend Toulouse Lautrecs work.
Paris Series of Sunflowers.
Painted in 1887.
Gauguin: acquired these by
exchanging work with Van
Gogh.
Van Gogh became very famous for painting the Sunflower.
Oil on Canvas.
This Paris series is evident as the flowers are displayed lying down.
There are 5 paintings in the Paris series.
Julien ‘Pere’ Tanguy: was a paint grinder who sold art supplies and was also an art dealer, located in Montmarte.
• Tanguy took paintings as payment for paints, which Emile Bernard said made entering his shop in Montmarte, full of
Impressionist paintings, like "visiting a museum”.
• Here we see 3 paintings of ‘Pere’ by Van Gogh which really highlights the progression in van Gogh's artistic style after his
arrival in Paris. The first is somber, and formed from a simple composition. The second introduces Van Gogh’ prints. The
last and most advanced in style, skill and colour which integrates Japenese, impressionists and other influences of the
Parisian artist community such as George Seurats small brushstrokes.
 • In spite of his unusual demeanor, disheveled clothes
Van Gogh’s last year in Paris and often at times frightening manner, Paris was the
one place where Van Gogh developed friendships with
other artists. So much so that when Toulouse-Lautrec
heard disparaging remarks against Van Gogh in 1890
he challenged the Belgian man to a duel.
• By January 1887, Vincent had become closer to
Bernard and the rest of the Paris avant-garde through
time spent at the art shop of Pere Tanguy, which
served as an informal avant-garde headquarters.
• towards the end of that year, Vincent arranged an
exhibition alongside Bernard, Anquetin, and probably
Toulouse-Lautrec, at the Grand-Bouillon Restaurant du
Chalet, 43 avenue de Clichy, Montmartre.
• In November 1887 Van Gogh Met Gauguin in Paris.
•  In February 1888, feeling worn out from life in Paris,
Van Gogh left, having painted more than 200 paintings
during his two years there. Hours before his
departure, accompanied by Theo, he paid his first and
only visit to Seurat in his studio.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Portrait of Vincent
van Gogh, 1887, pastel drawing,
Van Gogh’s move south to Arles
•  In 1888, Van Gogh decided to go south to Arles where he hoped his friends
would join him and help found a school of art at  ‘The Yellow House’ (seen
opposite and painted on Oil on Canvas, Arles: September, 1888)
• The time in Arles became one of Van Gogh's more prolific periods: he
completed 200 paintings, and more than 100 drawings and watercolours
• Danish artist Christian Mourier-Petersen became his companion for two
months.
• his works from this period are rich in yellow, ultramarine and mauve. 
• portrayals of Arles are informed by Van Gogh's Dutch upbringing; the
patchworks of fields and avenues appear flat and lacking perspective, but
excel in their use of colour. His new-found appreciation is seen in the range
and scope of his work. 
• He wanted a gallery to display his work, and started a series of paintings that
eventually included: Van Gogh Chair, Bedroom in Arles, Café Terrace at
Night, Starry Night Over the Rhone, Still-life: Vase with twelve sunflowers.
Which were all intended to decorated the yellow house, which he had
extended his lease on and increased his space.
 Bedroom in Arles: 1888, Oil On Canvas
There are three authentic versions of his
bedroom.
This room was not rectangular but
trapezoid.

Related Video’s to Watch:

Bedroom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1tA9
-ypx0g&t=107s

Van Gogh’s Bedroom, research in progress,

Discolouration:
https://vimeo.com/5288548

Van Gogh what’s the “colour to do everything” he wants the imagination to rest and to rest the brain when looking at the
work.
Here Van Gogh is beginning to play with the formal elements of colour, line and shapes, showing they can be expressive on
their own.
The most striking aspects of this work are the bright patches of contrasting colour, the thickly applied paint and the odd
perspective. The rear wall appears strangely angled. This is not a mistake: this corner of the Yellow House was, in fact, slightly
skewed. The simple interior and bright colours were meant to convey notions of rest and sleep, both literally and figuratively.
‘The painter of the sunflowers’
by Gauguin 1888, Oil on Canvas.
Painted during Gauguin’s stay in Arles with
Van Gogh in the Yellow House.
It shows Gauguin experimentation with
composition.
Created from a hightened perspective.
Van Gogh’s arm draws the viewer across the
canvas to the flowers.
This painting by Gauguin was a celebration of
his friend and a recognition of his artistic skill.
It shows the essence of Van Gogh, the artist
with his tools.
Created at a time where Van Gogh was
working at a feverish pace.
The sunflowers really represent the start of
something good, hope, and dreams coming
to fruition.
These Sunflowers were painted by Van Gogh to
decorate the guest rooms in Arles.
Van Gogh was excited to welcome fellow artist and
good friend Gauguin and knew his love of his earlier
sunflower series in Paris. So he decided to paint these
in honour of his guest.
Along with 6 others.
 The vibrant yellow oil paints used in Van Gogh's
"Sunflowers" were first made available early in the 19th
century. He was among the first artists to fully embrace
them. 

Sunflowers video’s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=vFGVaMVyAoU&t=15s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV4YGUAHPJU&lis
t=PL-V_A8QwYS9sbW6kqnhz0FLi5fJAhbpVT&index=6&t
=1554s
Van Gogh’s Colour mixing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57g2xvKEm8s
• Vincent also painted two chairs one was his and one
was for Gauguin. It is upholstered
• One painted at night and the other during the day.
Gauguin later joined him but with disastrous
results. Van Gogh’s nervous temperament
made him a difficult companion and night-long
discussions combined with painting all day
undermined his health.
Near the end of 1888 his friendship with
Gauguin ended after a confrontation with a
razor when, in a rage, Van Gogh persued him
with an open Razor, however he ended up
severing part of his own left ear off instead. 
After this he was sent to the asylum in Saint-
Remy for treatment.
In May of 1890, after a couple of years at the
asylum, he seemed much better and went to
live in Auvers-sur-Oise. Two months later, he
died.
The Starry Night
depicts a dreamy interpretation of the artist's asylum
room's sweeping view of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Though
Van Gogh revisited this scene in his work on several
occasions, "Starry Night" is the only nocturnal study of the
view. Thus, in addition to descriptions evident in the
myriad of letters he wrote to his brother, Theo, it offers a
rare nighttime glimpse into what the artist saw while in
isolation.

Van Gogh reused his canvas’s

• Further viewing:
1) At Eternity’s Gate, CBS Films, on Netflicks
• 2)Loving Vincent Animation created in Oils.

technique
• 3)You Tube Video’s:

• Early works:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HinBYpuaiA

• Bedroom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1tA9-ypx0g&t=
107s

• Self-portrait dedicated to Gauguin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqSpWPONekE

• Van Gogh’s Vitallity:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=YV4YGUAHPJU&list=PL-
V_A8QwYS9sbW6kqnhz0FLi5fJAhbpVT&index=6&t=1