A little History…
Vincent Van Gogh was born in 1853 and died in 1890. He was an emotional man who was trying to find his place in life. After spending many years trying different occupations and two attempts at marriage he decided to study art in Belgium. In the late 1880’s he began to use the short brushstrokes of the impressionists. He hoped his friends, Pissarro, Monet, and Gauguin, would help found a school of art. Although his nervous temperament made him difficult to want to be around Gauguin joined him on this journey. This is when Van Gogh took a turn for the worse. In a fit of rage Van Gogh cased a friend with an open razor and cut a portion of his own ear lobe off. From this point on Vincent alternated between madness and lucidity and went to the asylum in Saint-Remy for treatment. In the year 1890 he died by shooting himself.
The paintings…
Vincent van Gogh created 900 paintings from the years 1881 to 1890. He wanted to bring happiness to his viewers through his work. His fast work pace cost him lots of money with little time to earn another source of income. His financial difficulties also caused him mental and physical stress. Van Gogh sold one painting throughout his lifetime, The Red Vineyard.
The Red Vineyard, Painting, Oil on Canvas, Arles: November, 1888
Van Gogh believed to be a great artist you must master the drawing prior to adding color. Throughout the years he mastered his drawings and then began to use more color. His use of bold colors is what made him famous in the end.
The painting Starry Night is one of his most sought after and replicated paintings today. This painting was created from memory as he sat in the asylum. It features a night sky with bold colored, swirling clouds and gazing stars. The viewer’s eyes are constantly moving following the exaggerated features of the sky. The foreground of the painting shows a small town below rolling hills. The night is peaceful with the lights laminating from the windows of the homes in this town. Standing tall in the middle of town is the steeple of a church. This creates a sense of stability, size and seclusion. To the left of the town stands a tall, dark structure. This structure is very large compared to the other objects in the painting. It allows the viewer to imagine the many things it is meant to be.
Starry Night, Painting, Oil on Canvas, Saint-Rémy, France: June, 1889
The Letters…
Van Gogh had many people who believed in him and supported him mentally and financially, especially his brother Theo. He wrote an estimated 874 letters to friends and family, but mostly to Theo. It is through these letters that he has become famous. His followers were able to understand him and feelings. You are able to feel his love and passion for art while reading his letters. These letters made Theo understand his passion, his inability to financially support himself and his mental illness. This is why Theo helped financially support his brother while Vincent made his mark in history.
Vincent kept in touch with his brother to express his progress of becoming a great artist. Van Gogh was his toughest critic and would not rest until he achieved greatness. The following excerpt is from a letter written to Theo on November 19, 1881.
“Though I fall ninety-nine times, the hundredth time I shall stand. And what are they talking about means of subsistence for, as if I had none! What artist has not struggled and toiled, and what other way is there but struggling and toiling to gain a foothold. And since when has a draftsman no chance of earning his living? (Van Gogh Gallery)”
This letter tells us the commitment and passion Van Gogh felt for art. He struggled to be able to be the great artist and this lead him to his future disasters. To him it was all worth it. He needed to be able to create the perfect piece. In early January of the year 1886 he said to his brother:
“In fact, in my opinion the drawings that I see there are all hopelessly bad and absolutely wrong, and I know for sure that mine are totally different. Time must show who is right. (Van Gogh Gallery)”
The Conclusion…
In the end is it those who are mentally ill who create beautiful art or is it that trying to create beautiful art leads to those becoming mentally ill? There are over 800 letters to read with proof that Van Gogh put every bit of his heart into create the perfect masterpiece. He would not stop until it was done. He was not worried about money because his brother, Theo, believed in him and provided for him. With this assistance Van Gogh was able to concentrate strictly on painting as opposed to finding another source of income. The funds that were provided for him went toward his painting supplies and his thought of needing the perfect piece kept him away from meeting those who would possibly support him as an artist. Therefore he ended his life penniless, mentally ill and not realizing that his paintings were totally different and he did succeed.
Works Cited
Vangoghgallery.com. 24 July 2009. www.vangoghgallery.com.
Vggallery.com. 24 July 2009. www.vggallery.com.
