Starry Night
Cafe Terrace at Night
Bedroom in Arles
Vincent Van Gogh
- Occupation: Artist, Painter
- Born: March 30, 1853 in Zundert, Netherlands
- Died: July 29, 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France age 37
- Famous works: Starry Night, The Bedroom, Irises, Sunflowers
- Style/Period: Post-impressionist, Modern Art
Early Years
When Vincent first started drawing he sketched pictures using pencils or charcoal sticks. He used some watercolors as well. He liked to draw pictures of poor hardworking people. Eventually he began to paint using oil paints.
In this early part of his career, van Gogh used a lot of dark colors such as browns and dark greens. His pictures were often somber or sad. His most famous early painting was called The Potato Eaters. It was a dark picture of a peasant family eating potatoes for dinner.
Years in Paris
Theo wrote to Vincent to tell him about a new style of painting in Paris called Impressionism. In 1886 Vincent moved to Paris to learn from these new painters. His art became influenced by painters such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro. He also became good friends with artist Paul Gauguin.
During this time van Gogh began to use brighter colors. His brushwork also became more broken. He painted subjects from the streets and cafes of Paris as well as the countryside. Van Gogh also became interested in painting portraits of people. When he couldn't find models, he would paint himself for practice. He painted over twenty self portraits during this time.
What is the form of this painting?
- Taken from www.ducksters.com
I see.... the night sky filled with swirling clouds, stars ablaze with their own luminescence, and a bright crescent moon.
The sky keeps my eye moving all around the image.
Good website for learning more about Van Gogh here.
