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The Move Toward Modernism: Post Impressionists: Van Gogh and Gauguin

Chapter 31Humanities 103

Instructor Beth CampSpring 2003

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Post-Impressionists

Rejected idea that art has moral purpose Decided that art should not be created in

response to patrons or the public Pursued “art for art’s sake” Return to Romantic idea: emotion,

sensation, dropped “themes” and went for technique, isolation, outside convention and society

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Van Gogh (1853-1890)

Poverty, depression 800 paintings, 1,600 drawings Influenced by Japanese prints Painted landscapes, portraits, still lifes Used palette knife and vivid color to

express emotion Brought psychological intensity to

painting

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Van Gogh

Early years 1881-1886 The Netherlands

“I think an artist needn’t be a clergyman or a churchwarden, but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men” (1883)

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Van Gogh

Avenue of Poplars in Winter, 1884

Next: The Potato Eaters, 1885

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Van Gogh

Years in Paris (1886-1888) Eager to learn about Impressionism, Van

Gogh met Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gauguin and Georges Seurat

Painted 24 portraits in 2 years in Paris “It is difficult to know oneself--but it isn’t

easy to paint oneself either.” (1887) Next: Irises, 1889

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Van Gogh

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Van Gogh, Arles 1888-1889

Disillusioned by Paris, he moves to southern France to set up art colony

“. . . The Zouaves, the brothels, the adorable little Arlesiennes going to their first Communion, the priest in his surplice, who looks like a dangerous rhinocerous, the people drinking absinthe, all seem to me creatures from another world.”

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Van Gogh

Night Café, 1888

Next: The Sower, 1888

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Van Gogh

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Van Gogh

Olive Grove, 1889

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Van Gogh

“That which excites me most, much, much more than the other things in my work is the portrait, the modern portrait . . . I would like to make portraits which will appear as revelations to people in a hundred years time.”

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Van Gogh

The Postman, Joseph Roulin, six portraits

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Van Gogh

M. Gauchet

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Van GoghSelf-Portrait,

1889

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Van Gogh

Self-Portrait, 1889

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Van Gogh

Self-portrait, 1887

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Van Gogh Self-portrait

with Gray Felt Hat, 1887

Next: Starry Night, 1889

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Van Gogh

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Wheat Field with Crows, 1890

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About Van Gogh

What is your impression of Van Gogh’s work?

Which one or two paintings were you most intrigued by? Why?

How would you describe the “subtext” of Van Gogh’s work?

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Van Gogh

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Van Gogh: The Starry Night

Van Gogh painted “The Starry Night” by looking through the window of his asylum; considered earliest “expressionism” (extreme feeling).

Van Gogh wrote to Theo: “Just as we take the train to get to Tarascon or Rouen, we take death to reach a star.”

Two symbols to notice:• Cypress tree = traditional symbol of death and

eternal life links earth with stars• Venus = brightest star = love

What does this add to your interpretation?

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Gauguin (1848-1903)

French painter and woodcut artist At 35, rejected career as stockbroker Inspired by folk art (Brittany, South Seas),

1891 went to Tahiti following abortive partnership with Van Gogh

1903 died in South Seas in poverty Next: Breton Girls Dancing, Pont-Aven, 1888

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Gauguin

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Gauguin

“The combinations are unlimited. The mixture of colors produces a dirty tone. Any color alone is a crudity and does not exist in nature. Colors exist only in an apparent rainbow, but how well rich nature took care to show them to you side by side in an established and unalterable order, as if each color was born out of another!”

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Gauguin

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Gauguin

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GauguinSelf-Portrait with

Halo, 1889

Next: Tahitian Women (or On the Beach),1891

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Gauguin

We Hail Thee Mary, 1891

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GauguinContes Barbares,1902

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Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? 1897

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About Gauguin

What is your impression of Gauguin’s work?

Which one or two paintings were you most intrigued by? Why?

How would you describe the “subtext” of Gauguin’s work?

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About Post-Impressionism

Based on what you know now, how would you describe the difference between “Impressionism” and “Post-Impressionism”?

What were the most memorable images from this slide show? Why?

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Sources

Slides from Mark Hardin’s Artchive