One of the aspects of teaching this
class that originally excited me was that through asking students to learn
about topics for which they had a true passion, I’d also learn about a variety
of things. Some of the topics that
students have chosen for first quarter are ones that I was relatively familiar
with, such as the Salem Witch Trials or dystopian novels. However, there are many others that I realize
I only have a passing knowledge of, so it’s been great to learn more. One these subjects is art. Though I have been to art museums all over
Europe and America, my genuine knowledge
of various artists and styles is minimal, but I knew that would change when I
began reading Jess Castine’s blog on Vincent van Gogh. Every week I learn not only about van Gogh as
a person but much about his style and a great deal about the art world in
general. Jess is truly becoming an
expert, and as you will see in the post below, she’s getting others interested
as well!
Essential Question 9/26/14: What was van Gogh's
process and motivation?
As I am coming to the
last few pages of Letters to Theo, van Gogh's motivation is becoming
more intense and his process, well, a little bit crazed. What was at the
beginning a sweet, heartwarming story about a simple painter trying to make his
way has taken a sharp turn into something much darker. At the point I am now
reading, van Gogh has been hospitalized on and off during the year due to
“overexcitement”, hacking off part of his ear, and thinking that his friends
want to kill him. Although this has been a hard portion to read, I think that
van Gogh's crazed, "overexcited" state has given me a lot of insight
into who he is as an artist.
Van Gogh is, at his
essence, a hard worker. Throughout his letters he has accounted the ways that
he strives to bring light and life and beauty to the people through his artwork.
He works day and night sometimes; usually his schedule is twelve hours of work
and eleven of sleep with meal breaks in between if he can afford food that
week. As I continue reading, van Gogh's working day goes from "I work only
from nine until six..."(11) to "My money ran out on Thursday and I
have lived for four days on twenty three cups of coffee, with bread for which I
still owe." (393) Needless to say, his process has steadily gotten more
intense and unhealthy as the book progresses. Van Gogh’s work day mostly
consists of spending his money on paints instead of food and feeling like he
cannot eat because he has not earned his bread by selling artwork. In general,
this book is getting incredibly sad. I wish I could say it all turns out well
in the end.
Upon closer look, one
can see that van Gogh’s creation of art was never a cookie cutter process. One
of his biggest desires was to be a master colorist, so the paints he used were
often the most important part of his artwork. He thought very highly of his
colors- he said that one should never use pure blue in flesh because it looks
dead and woody, that the browns in leather are truly purple and red, that the
mood of a person determines the colors of the portrait. The colors were
certainly a big part of working for him. In one of his many paragraphs about
the effect of colour, and one of my personal favorite passages, van Gogh
describes his intentions behind The Night Cafe. He says “I have tried to
express the terrible passions of humanity through red and green.” (383) and
goes on to detail his intentions behind the placement and use of blood red,
dark yellow, lemon yellow, green, orange, and violet. Van Gogh treasures his
pigments as the life of his artwork, and they are by far the most important elements
of his art.
For context, here are two of van Gogh's self portraits- one of his first,
about ten years after he started writing to Theo, and one of his last, just a
few months before he committed suicide. Note the difference in colors- the
first was warm, loose, and precise, whereas the last is cold and a little
harsh. Notice how he uses blue in the flesh, which as I mentioned before, he
warned against because of the dead look it gives the subject.
Self Portrait with Dark Felt Hat. Spring 1886, Oil on Canvas, Van Gogh Museum
Amsterdam.
Self Portrait. September 1889, Oil on canvas, Musée d'Orsay,
Paris.
Jess,
I knew a lot of this information before I read your post today, and it is so sad. It's especially sad that often the people who give posterity so much pleasure by being unique and fascinating had such a difficult time during their own lives. I don't quite know what to think about that.
I love that you included his self portraits here. You explained the differences with the colors nicely, and I think the effect is clear. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would say the latter is more famous. Would you agree? Why do you think so?
Keep up the good work. I'm really enjoying your blog. :)
CJF
I knew a lot of this information before I read your post today, and it is so sad. It's especially sad that often the people who give posterity so much pleasure by being unique and fascinating had such a difficult time during their own lives. I don't quite know what to think about that.
I love that you included his self portraits here. You explained the differences with the colors nicely, and I think the effect is clear. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would say the latter is more famous. Would you agree? Why do you think so?
Keep up the good work. I'm really enjoying your blog. :)
CJF
Ms. Fichera,
I'm glad you enjoyed the portraits, and I definitely agree that the second one is the more famous of the two. I think people like it better because it reflects Vincent's trademark style- bold strokes, exaggerated colours- and the first one is in a more traditional style like the paintings of the Renaissance. I personally think that they both show the same amount of emotion, though perhaps different kinds- the first one being somber and intellectual, the second being sort of angsty. That's just my two cents, though- in the end, it's up to the viewer to decide what each one means!
I'm glad you enjoyed the portraits, and I definitely agree that the second one is the more famous of the two. I think people like it better because it reflects Vincent's trademark style- bold strokes, exaggerated colours- and the first one is in a more traditional style like the paintings of the Renaissance. I personally think that they both show the same amount of emotion, though perhaps different kinds- the first one being somber and intellectual, the second being sort of angsty. That's just my two cents, though- in the end, it's up to the viewer to decide what each one means!
Hi, Jess.
I am glad to see that you are integrating two subjects in which you are interested: art and literature. I remember some of the artistic projects you completed in sophomore English, so this seems like a great fit!
I enjoyed reading your explanation about van Gogh's thoughts on the ways that colors represent moods. What does it say about me, that I prefer images full of blues, grays, and greens, as opposed to those full of browns and reds?!
I am also left pondering the same question Ms. Fichera posed: Why is van Gogh's latter self-portrait more popular than his earlier one? I have some thoughts about this but look forward to hearing your ideas.
Great blog post, Jess!
I am glad to see that you are integrating two subjects in which you are interested: art and literature. I remember some of the artistic projects you completed in sophomore English, so this seems like a great fit!
I enjoyed reading your explanation about van Gogh's thoughts on the ways that colors represent moods. What does it say about me, that I prefer images full of blues, grays, and greens, as opposed to those full of browns and reds?!
I am also left pondering the same question Ms. Fichera posed: Why is van Gogh's latter self-portrait more popular than his earlier one? I have some thoughts about this but look forward to hearing your ideas.
Great blog post, Jess!
Mrs.
Lynch,
Thanks for reading! I think most prefer the second one because it has a traditional 'van Gogh' look- it is done in the impressionist style, with varying textures and brighter colours than those found in real life. When the general public wants to see a painting by van Gogh, they aren't really thinking about his earlier, more traditional works, hence the latter painting's fame. The second one is my personal favorite, too, because of the colours, style, and truth to his face- judging by sketches that others have done of van Gogh, the second is more accurate to what he really looked like.
Thanks for reading! I think most prefer the second one because it has a traditional 'van Gogh' look- it is done in the impressionist style, with varying textures and brighter colours than those found in real life. When the general public wants to see a painting by van Gogh, they aren't really thinking about his earlier, more traditional works, hence the latter painting's fame. The second one is my personal favorite, too, because of the colours, style, and truth to his face- judging by sketches that others have done of van Gogh, the second is more accurate to what he really looked like.
So, that was awesome! J
In
other news, I recently read Tom Rachman’s second novel, The Rise and Fall of
Great Powers. In reading it, I
suffered through some of the most manipulative and downright terrible
characters that I’ve ever experienced, and my heart broke for one of the
others. It was an upsetting, unsettling
book, and though it kept me in suspense, I’m glad it’s over. I’ve yet to find my next topical read, but I
will post it soon. Enjoy this warm
stretch of fall!
CJF
