Vincent Van Gogh

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Recommended: Life story of Vincent Van Gogh critical analysis

What fascinates me much, much more than anything else in my métier is the portrait, the modern portrait . . . I should like to do portraits which will appear as revelations to people in 100 years time." - VINCENT VAN GOGH, 1890 What could be a more disturbing image than the one of Vincent Van Gogh as the wanderer? Of his time spent in poverty and isolation he sought to help those around him, and perhaps to find himself in the process. Picture Vincent as he gives his first Sunday sermon in Isleworth, outside of London. He was so passionate about his beliefs, but never really connected with the religious world. His sermon must have really been something. Van gogh traveled to Brussels on foot to seek counsel from Pastor Pietersen at the evangelical college. He had no more than the a few sketches and the clothes on his back, but he needed guidance in his overwhelming desire to help others. Van gogh’s wanderings were not always religiously motivated. Another great image was when Vincent walked 70 kilometers to Courrières, France to see Jules Breton, a painter he admires. When he reached Breton's house, Vincent was too timid to knock. Although Van gogh is known for his insanity and his close relationship with his brother, his relationship with other people is fascinating as well. His relationships with women are very captivating. The three main women in Van gogh’s life were the prostitute, Sein, and his cousin, Kee. Van gosh and Sien are both portrayed as lonely and desperate people. For some time, however, Van gogh and Sien brought some happiness into each other's lives. At the same time, Sien has always seemed fairly cold. Is it true? Maybe not--there's little bona fide information available about Sien, about her life and her feelings. What happened to her after she parted from Van gogh? It is said that she remarried but eventually committed suicide by drowning. She played an important role in Van Gogh's life. There are many single events, which stand out in Van gogh’s life (the ear-cutting is, of course, the one that most people are familiar with). Another specific moment find is when Van gogh confronts the parents of his cousin, Cornelia Adriana Vos-Stricker (Kee). Van gogh’s love for Kee is unrequited, but he won't be turned away. Van gogh argues unsuccessfully with Kee's parents and then, in order to prove his determination, holds his hand over th... ... middle of paper ... ... In the painting Starry Night the main subject matter in this particular work is the sky and the stars swirling around. There is also a focus on the houses and the big tree that was put in the front of the painting. The texture of this painting is an oil paint on canvas. The title Starry Night interprets the painting very well. The painting shows how there are a lot of stars in the sky and how they seem to be swirling around and around. There are many horizontal lines in this painting, which makes it seem really calm. There are also some diagonal lines that give the painting energy. This particular painting is balanced in an asymmetrical manner. The painting seems to be balanced, but it is not the same on both sides. It has different shapes and different colors on both sides. In the end, however, it all comes out looking as if it is evenly balanced. Hulsker, Jan. Vincent and Theo Van Gogh: A Dual Biography; Fuller Technical Publications; 1990. Tralbaut, Marc Edo; Vincent Van Gogh. Viking, 1969. Sweetman, David; The Love of Many Things: The Life of Vincent Van Gogh; Touchtone, 1990. www.vangogh.com The ACCESS INDIANA Teaching and Learning Center, Vincent Van Gogh. Web page

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