Vincent Van Gogh
Expressionism
Van Gogh was a consummate technician.
Vincent Van Gogh was a late 19th century painter. Dutch by birth, he traveled to Amsterdam and Paris during his training as a painter, later settling in southern France, where he was attracted to the rural, peasnat life there. His heros included the painter, Millet of the Barizon school.
He was a complex person who practiced, contrary to popular belief, a complex system of painting. His paintings exhibit his arduous mastery of draftsmanship, his keen interest and practice of the theory of color, and mastery sense, like Homer, Miller, of composition.
By circumstance, he led a complex, dissulious, tragic life. Well ahead of his time, born twenties years too early, he was a victim of financial circumstances, failing to sell any of his paintings but one. He relied soley on his brother, Theo, an art dealer in Paris, for his financial support.
After progressing from a traditional, classical, plein air painter, he progressed towards Impressionism through witnessing Impressionists painters like Monet while his stay in Paris. He dabbled in different styles in vogue during the time and naturally progresed toward his distinctive style, well know throughout the world today.
He experienced a nervous breakdown shortly after his friend, the painter Gaughin, departed from his company. After servering his ear in a fit of delierim, he was confined in an asylum 25 miles where he was living. Shortly thereafter, he shot himself and died a day later.
Today, his paintings are known for his disctinct style, wildly expressive with fiery colors that expressed his emotional reaction to the scenes. Van Gogh, Gaughin, Monet--these painters are the most well-known of period of times, he lived and painted.
Here are some of his well known paintings.
Van Gogh's Bridges
Other Van Gogh's Paintings
Starry Night | Cafe Terrace on the de Forum | Irises |
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Walledfield with a peasent | Field with Poppies | Olive Orchard |
Starry Night Over Rhone | Irises in a Pot | Tree |