Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, Oil on Canvas.

What you need to know about Vincent Van Gogh

• Tried just about every profession in the book, including teaching, and ended up being an artist
• His brother Theo supported him most of his life. There are documented letters back and forth between him and Theo
• Is documented that he would trade paintings for art supplies, as he had no money of his own.
• Only sold 1 artwork in his entire life.
• As his artwork was unusual for his time, was considered to be a failure as an artist.
• Set up an artist community with Paul Gauguin in Arles (Southern France).
• Van Gogh considered Gauguin to be a good friend. The two had a quarrel, after which Van Gogh cut off his own ear. This self portrait is a painting of the aftermath.
  
• Mentally unstable: spent the latter part of his life in a mental institution.
• Most of his works were created in the last 2 years of his life, 1888-1890. Van Gogh used to go into frenzies where he would paint quickly, and to no end.
  
• Died of a self-inflicted gunshot to the stomach in 1890.
  

Van Gogh is one of the main 4 Post-Impressionists. He paints in a Post-Impressionist style. The main goals of the Post-Impressionists was to communicate emotion and to have symbolic meaning. They were leaving behind the ideals and traditions of the Impressionists. It was a refusal to imitate nature and create artworks with moral significance.

About Van Gogh's painting style: The painting is brightly colored with heavy brushstrokes. It shows his preference for strong color. It is not unusual for a Van Gogh to have simplified forms.

Please answer the following:

1. Many artists like to idealize themselves, as their self-portraits will be how they are remembered. Why would Van Gogh highlight his weakness? Remember to IDENTIFY his weakness in your answer.

2. What is the mood, or feeling, of this work of art? Please use the painting, as well as historical knowledge to justify your answer.