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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?
