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

We will also look at aspects of

Artists 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 Goghs New Life

Artwork 3: Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin 1888

Saint Paul Asylum, Saint Rmy

Artwork 4: The Starry Night (Cypresses and a Village) 1889

The Last Week Conclusion

Year 1953

The Life of Van Gogh Born on 30 March, in the Dutch Village of Zundert. Started working as a clerk at the Goupil Art Gallery in The Hague.

Additional Notes

Historical World Events The US Navy reaches Japan, and ends two centuries of Japanese isolation. The first international art exhibition is held in Munich.

1969

Goupil & Cie was a leading art dealership in the 19th Century, located in Paris. They had many branches throughout Europe.

1873

Moved to London for work, and learns English. Moved to Paris.

Worldwide Economic Depression. Napoleon III dies in England. Deaths of two important Realist artists- Jean Francois Millet and JeanBaptise Camille The first Impressionist art exhibition is held. Alexander Graham Bell introduces the first model of the Telephone. Theology is the study of the nature of God and religious beliefs. The Third Impressionist Exhibition is held in Paris.

1875

1876

Dismissed from Goupils and takes up a teaching job in Ramsgrate, England.

1877

Returns to Netherlands and begins studying Theology.

Year 1880

The Life of Van Gogh Decides to become an artist.

Additional Notes

Historical World Events Thomas Edison introduces electric incandescent lamp Bell Phone opens first Dutch telephone exchange

1881

Lives with his parents where he draws and paints country life. Moves to Paris with his brother, Theo. There he meets other artists such as Pissaro and Gauguin. Moves to Southern France (Arles) where he gains a greater devotion to painting. Gaguin and Vincents friendship ends. Vincent cuts his ear off, and is sent to a hospital.

1886

Pissarro and Gauguin are First public Dutch electricity opens famous French impressionist artists. The eighth and final Impressionist exhibition is held.

1888

1889 1890

Van Gogh enters St Paul Asylum, and continues painting. Moves to a village north of Paris, where he shoots himself in the chest,

Eiffel Tower is completed. The Moulin Rouge opens in Paris. 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

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

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

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 Goghs 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 Goghs 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 Goghs life story, we are able to acknowledge and understand Van Goghs artist practice and how the conceptual framework influences the art world, audience, artist and the artwork.