• This case study goes through four artworks by Vincent Van Gogh.

• We will also look at aspects of

– Artist’s Practice

– Conceptual Framework

• Personal Background – Early Life • Early Work- The Beginning of a career

– Artwork 1: The Potato Eaters 1885

• Impressionism – Artwork 2: Self-Portrait in Front of an Easel 1888

• The Last Years – Van Gogh’s New Life – Artwork 3: Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin 1888

• Saint Paul Asylum, Saint Rémy – Artwork 4: The Starry Night (Cypresses and a Village) 1889

• The Last Week • Conclusion

Year The Life of Van Gogh Additional Notes Historical World Events

1953 Born on 30 March, in the Dutch Village of

Zundert.

The US Navy reaches Japan, and ends

two centuries of Japanese isolation.

1969 Started working as a clerk at the Goupil

Art Gallery in The Hague.

Goupil & Cie was a leading

art dealership in the 19th

Century, located in Paris.

They had many branches

throughout Europe.

The first international art exhibition is

held in Munich.

1873 Moved to London for work, and learns

English.

Worldwide Economic Depression.

Napoleon III dies in England.

1875 Moved to Paris. Deaths of two important Realist

artists- Jean Francois Millet and Jean-

Baptise Camille

1876 Dismissed from Goupil’s and takes up a

teaching job in Ramsgrate, England.

The first Impressionist art exhibition is

held.

Alexander Graham Bell introduces the

first model of the Telephone.

1877 Returns to Netherlands and begins

studying Theology.

Theology is the study of the

nature of God and religious

beliefs.

The Third Impressionist Exhibition is

held in Paris.

Year The Life of Van Gogh Additional Notes Historical World Events

1880 Decides to become an artist. Thomas Edison introduces electric

incandescent lamp

1881 Lives with his parents where he draws and

paints country life.

Bell Phone opens first Dutch

telephone exchange

1886 Moves to Paris with his brother, Theo.

There he meets other artists such as

Pissaro and Gauguin.

Pissarro and Gauguin are

famous French impressionist

artists.

First public Dutch electricity opens

1888 Moves to Southern France (Arles) where

he gains a greater devotion to painting.

Gaguin and Vincent’s friendship ends.

Vincent cuts his ear off, and is sent to a

hospital.

The eighth and final Impressionist

exhibition is held.

1889 Van Gogh enters St Paul Asylum, and

continues painting.

Eiffel Tower is completed.

The Moulin Rouge opens in Paris.

1890 Moves to a village north of Paris, where he

shoots himself in the chest,

Amsterdam Theatre destroyed by fire

The Potato Eaters (1885) Oil on Canvas, 82 cm x 114 cm

Vincent Van Gogh Vincent Van Gogh Museum

• Impressionism was an art movement that took place between 1860 and 1900.

• Focused in France

Grainstack (Sunset) (1890-01) Oil on Canvas Claude Monet

•Characteristics include: •Short and quick brushstrokes •Mixing of colours were limited •Objective was the capture the effects of light and colour •Painted outdoors

Self-Portrait in Front of the Easel (1888)

Oil on canvas, 65 × 50.5 cm

Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh Museum

•Depression played a major role in the creation of van Gogh’s paintings. •He found it difficult to keep relationships with friends. •In 1888, Van Gogh moved to Arles, and convinced himself that his new life here will be better, and his past difficulties will disappear under the warm sunshine of Arles

•Van Gogh was happy for a few months. •He enjoyed drawing and painting pictures near the seaside, because of how the light reflected in the water would change colours. ‘Mediterranean Sea is a mackerel colour: in other words, changeable - you do not always know whether it is green or purple, you do not always know if it is blue, as the next moment the ever-changing sheen has assumed a pink or a gray tint.’- Vincent to Theo [The Letters, Amsterdam]

Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin (1888) Oil on canvas

Vincent Van Gogh

•Van Gogh was sent to an Asylum due to his reports of hearing voices and claiming to be poisoned. •Even though he was mentally unstable, Van Gogh still drew pictures and painted, however under constant watch. •Although he was at a mentally unstable state, Van Gogh was still able to produce quality paintings.

‘Van Gogh's late works show an artist at the height of his ability, completely in control and "longing for concision and grace”’ – Robert Hughes, Australian art critic.

The Starry Night (1889) Oil on Canvas, 73.7 cm x 92.1 cm

Vincent van Gogh

•Due to Van Gogh’s mental illness, he shot himself in the chest, after a quarrel with his carer, and passed away two days later due to an infection.

•By analysing these artworks, and knowing Van Gogh’s life story, we are able to acknowledge and understand Van Gogh’s artist practice and how the conceptual framework influences the art world, audience, artist and the artwork.