Van Gogh's Vision

Paper Summary:

This paper examines Van Gogh's unique vision of the world, a vision that he portrayed in rich but unusual colors and swirling brushstrokes. It explains that it is extremely idiosyncratic and it is this vision that is most notable to viewers of his works. By viewing paintings from his period in Belgium, his time in Paris, and his time in Arles, this paper looks at how this unique vision of the world pervaded his works even as his technique developed.

From the Paper:

"Vincent Van Gogh was born in 1853 to Theodorus van Gogh and Anna Cornelia Carbentus. He was born in the town of Zundert, which was in the south of the Netherlands, and his father worked as a preacher. In 1869, he began his association with the world of professional art working at an art dealer's firm as well as several other small jobs. After carrying on in this occupation, he began to follow his father's footsteps in studying religious studies in preparation for the vocation of preacher. In 1878, while beginning his study of religion, Van Gogh moved to a mining town in Belgium called Borinage. It is while here that Van Gogh discovered that it was his second vocation that would become his true passion: he found the calling to become an artist. His early work was largely influenced by two artists that he greatly admired, Jean Franois Millet and Honor Daumier, and in following their example his early work tended to use dark colors extensively. He moved around throughout the Netherlands and Brussels before his art career eventually reached a second stage when he moved to Paris."

More papers on Van Gogh's Vision:

• Essay # 40025 : "The Concept of Vision in Terms of Sensual and Social Perception"
• Analytical Essay # 129648 : "The Sower" by Van Gogh"
• Descriptive Essay # 146953 : "Gauguin: Self Exile from La Belle Epoque"

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