Artist Paper

WE ALL KNOW VINCENT VAN GOGH
We All Know Vincent Van Gogh

Audrey Michels
Salt Lake Community College

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Abstract
In this paper you will find a brief look into the world of Vincent van Gogh. A
summarized biography of the life of the cherished artist is included. How Vincent van
Gogh has placed an influence on the lives of those who lived in his world of the arts is
also encompassed. A critique of one of Vincent van Goghs magnificent pieces will
follow at the end. This paper is at the purpose of growing a readers knowledge of
Vincent van Gogh as I have done through my research.

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We All Know Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh was born in the Netherlands in 1853 and grew up in a Dutch
family. Like many artists, Van Goghs ultimate pronouncement to become an artist came
after he struggled through many career paths. Before making his decision at the age of
27, he had practice with teaching, preaching, and selling books and different art. After
his tortured and unsuccessful journey of searching for his calling, he began to exercise his
skill for drawing.
Van Gogh was predominantly a self-taught artist. He studied manuals and lessons
and drew the scenes that surrounded him. Van Gogh believed it was necessary for him to
master black and white before working with color (The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
2016). Therefore, his start in painting did not come about until 1882, when he moved
between two towns of the Netherlands. Van Gogh found himself in The Hague, where he
received proper art lessons from his cousin who was an artist in the towns school.
Van Goghs painting style started out to be murky and grainy. He preferred dark
colors and a course look to his work. It was not until he appeared at an art class at
Fernand Cormons studio that a new, lighter style began to show itself. Having been
strongly influenced by the Impressionist style of art, Van Gogh started painting bright
fields of flowers and strategically unlaced shoes. He created still lifes and portraits. Van
Gogh found passion in painting oleanders as well as a particular postmasters wife,
Madame Roulin. His paintings grew deeper in meaning, expressing the way Van Gogh
saw the world. He enjoyed capturing people as they lived in their natural, un-posed state.
Van Goghs art became what it is as we know it today; full of color and life.

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Van Gogh filled his paintings with symbolic inspiration. Many of them had
significant meaning and encompassed details that represented what he believed. Van
Gogh painted simple things such as bedrooms, alleyways, and vases of flowers, all of
which he brought to life through his paintings. Van Gogh brought out the extraordinary
beauty in ordinary scenes.
Van Gogh brought beauty to those close to him in his time. Those he painted in
self-portraits were able to see a new beauty in themselves. Those who found themselves
in understanding of his art looked at everyday things as if they were more beautiful than
before.
One of Van Goghs early drawings of a family sitting down to eat a meal was set
in his initial style of a dark palette. Van Gogh wrote that he wished to show that they
have tilled the earth themselves with the same hands they are putting in the dish, (The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2016). Van Gogh placed meaning in his artistry and as his
paintings grew in popularity (largely after his death), people took notice. He told stories
through his artwork that the everyday person could relate to. Van Goghs art has
continuously had an impact on its viewers as it enables them to see a new side of ordinary
beauty.
Van Goghs art did not only leave an impression on its admirers, but on the history
of art itself. Through Van Gogh, artists have been inspired to convey not just what
appears in front of them, but the meaning of the appearance. Because of Van Gogh, art
became more of a holding for emotion and spirituality as artists sought to express the idea
behind their canvases compared to only the scene. Van Gogh led a beautiful trend in art,
that of a more meaningful expression.

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Portrait of Joseph Roulin by Vincent van Gogh (1889)

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The painting on the page prior was completed by Vincent Van Gogh in 1889.
Titled, Portrait of Joseph Roulin, the piece features a close friend of Van Gogh, set in his
usual postmaster uniform. This piece is imaginative and compelling. It is easy to see that
Van Gogh liked to create art out of his imagination instead of relying solely on his eyes.
This piece has beautiful value due to Van Goghs choice to use different tints of
each color throughout the portrait. Contrast is found between the colors, specifically the
blue of the mans costume and the orange tints of his face, which compliment each other.
The background of the piece helps to place emphasis on the man in the portrait as well, as
the first thing to draw your eye is the mans stare. The simple fact that the man is staring
straight ahead as if into the painting is enough to draw the eyes and keep them.
This piece by Van Gogh is beautiful in that it captures the essence of its subject.
While the man is portrayed in his usual way in his everyday costume, his look of
professionalism and curiosity are brought out. Van Gogh has made his subject to be
welcoming, as I believe he had sought to do so.
Vincent van Gogh was a truly talented artist. He practiced the ability of
imagination to bring his paintings out of the canvas and into life. He became the master
of multiple techniques and learned the secrets of incredible artistry. By the end of his
career Van Gogh had produced close to 1,000 pieces of art. The cherished artist is now
considered one of the most popular artists of all time (The Art Story Foundation, 2016).
The art done by Van Gogh has changed the world of other artists, and more importantly
the world of those who are familiar with it. For this, it is easy to understand the
reasoning of why we all know Vincent van Gogh.

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References
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). (2010). Retrieved May 18, 2016, from
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gogh/hd_gogh.htm
Vincents Life and Work. Retrieved May 18, 2016, from
http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/vincents-life-and-work
Vincent van Gogh. (2016). Retrieved May 19, 2016 from
http://www.theartstory.org/artist-van-gogh-vincent.htm
The Collection of Vincent van Gogh. (2012). Retrieved May 20, 2016 from
http://www.moma.org/collection/works/79105?locale=en

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WE ALL KNOW VINCENT VAN GOGH

We All Know Vincent Van Gogh

WE ALL KNOW VINCENT VAN GOGH

WE ALL KNOW VINCENT VAN GOGH

WE ALL KNOW VINCENT VAN GOGH

WE ALL KNOW VINCENT VAN GOGH

WE ALL KNOW VINCENT VAN GOGH

WE ALL KNOW VINCENT VAN GOGH

WE ALL KNOW VINCENT VAN GOGH

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