“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.”
Have you heard this quote before? Can you imagine how genius a person would be to dream up and paint his paintings? What a wonderful thing that mixes reality and imagination. This distinguished the paintings of the author of the quote "Van Gogh." Paint like Van Gogh means to paint with passion.
A captivating journey into Van Gogh's painting style.
Who is Van Gogh?
Vincent Willem van Gogh was born in the Netherlands to a priest father named Willem van Gogh in 1853, His mother was the artist "Anna Carpentus", He was born on the same day, a year after the death of his brother with the same name and some believed that this caused him a psychological crisis because he felt that he might be a "substitute son" for his dead brother.
But there is nothing to confirm this belief, in his childhood, his family was suffering from financial problems, which led Vincent to leave school at the age of 15 to work in a shop for his uncle, and in this store, Vincent learned many languages, including French, German, and English.
When it comes to art, you see that many artists started their artistic careers at an early age, but this was not the case with Van Gogh. Vincent began his artistic career in the late twenties and early thirties, but he showed creativity that many artists did not show in many years.
Therefore, Van Gogh attended a technical school in Brussels, Belgium where he learned the basic theory. After leaving school, he returned to his father's house in the country. Here, he honed his skill in painting landscapes and interpreting human experience through art.
Van Gogh produced more than 2,100 artworks over ten years only! Among them are 850 oil paintings and more than 1,300 watercolors, and this is a large number that many artists today fear to reach.
Unfortunately, although Van Gogh's paintings are now sold for millions of dollars, Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime, Van Gogh's career did not continue due to the deterioration of his mental health.
Van Gogh's mental deterioration.
Van Gogh Saint-Paul Asylum collection is a collection of paintings that Vincent van Gogh made from May 1889 until May 1890.
On 8 May 1889, Van Gogh, in his late thirties, was a self-admitted patient at the Saint-Paul asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. During his stay at Saint Paul asylum, Van Gogh experienced periods of illness when he could not paint.
When Van Gogh was able to resume, painting provided solace for him. While, works of the interior of the hospital corridors and cells convey the isolation and sadness that he felt, paintings depicting trees, and flowers were a symbol of the cycle of life.
In Saint Paul asylum, Van Gogh had two cells with barred windows, one of which he used as a studio, some of his works from this time are characterized by swirls, such as The Starry Night.
From the window of his cell, he saw an enclosed wheat field, the subject of many paintings made in his room. When he could leave the grounds of the asylum, he made other works, such as Olive Trees (Van Gogh series) and landscapes of the local area.
As Van Gogh ventured outside of the asylum walls, he painted the wheat fields, olive groves, and cypress trees of the surrounding countryside, over the year, he painted about 150 canvases.
The imposed regimen of asylum life gave Van Gogh a hard-won stability: "I feel happier here with my work than I could be outside. By staying here for a good long time, I shall have learned regular habits and in the long run, the result will be more order in my life."
While his time at Saint-Rémy forced the management of his vices, such as coffee, alcohol, poor eating habits, and periodic attempts to consume turpentine and paint, his stay was not ideal. He needed to obtain permission to leave the asylum grounds. The food was poor; he generally ate only bread and soup.
By early 1890 van Gogh's attacks of illness had worsened and he believed that his stay at the asylum was not helping to make him better. This led to his plans to move to Auvers-sur-Oise just north of Paris in May 1890.
The Tragic Death of Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh died on July 29, 1890, at the age of 37. His death, long considered a suicide, remains shrouded in mystery and speculation. While the official account suggests that Van Gogh shot himself in the chest, alternative theories, emerging evidence, and historical analysis continue to fuel debate about the true circumstances of his untimely demise.
The Traditional Narrative: Suicide in Auvers-sur-Oise
In May 1890, Van Gogh moved to Auvers-sur-Oise, a small village near Paris, to be closer to his brother, Theo, and to seek the care of Dr. Paul Gachet. The artist was prolific during his time in Auvers, producing around 70 paintings in just 70 days, including iconic works like Wheatfield with Crows and Portrait of Dr. Gachet.
On July 27, 1890, Van Gogh allegedly walked into a wheat field where he often painted and shot himself in the chest with a revolver. Despite his critical wound, he managed to return to the Auberge Ravoux, the inn where he was staying. The innkeepers, the Ravoux family, found him in distress, and a doctor was called. However, the bullet had not exited his body, and no surgery was performed to remove it.
Theo Van Gogh rushed to his brother's side. Vincent died two days later, on July 29, in his brother’s arms. His last reported words were, “La tristesse durera toujours” (“The sadness will last forever”). He was buried in the cemetery of Auvers-sur-Oise, and Theo, who died just six months later, was eventually buried beside him.
Mental Health and Suicide Theory
Van Gogh's struggles with mental health are well-documented through his letters, particularly his correspondence with Theo. He suffered from bouts of severe depression, anxiety, and possibly bipolar disorder. His infamous incident of cutting off his own ear in Arles in 1888 after an altercation with Paul Gauguin underscored his fragile mental state.
He spent time in psychiatric institutions, including Saint-Paul-de-Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where he created some of his most famous works, including The Starry Night. Van Gogh's mental illness, combined with financial troubles, artistic struggles, and his deep dependence on his brother, are often cited as factors leading to his alleged suicide.
The Controversial Murder Theory
In 2011, authors Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith published Van Gogh: The Life, presenting a compelling alternative theory that Van Gogh may not have died by suicide but was accidentally shot by a local teenager.
According to this theory, Van Gogh might have encountered René Secrétan, a 16-year-old who had previously tormented the artist. Secrétan owned a malfunctioning revolver, which might have gone off accidentally during an interaction with Van Gogh. The authors suggest that Van Gogh might have claimed responsibility for the shooting to protect the boy, in a final act of kindness or resignation.
Supporters of this theory point to the unusual trajectory of the bullet (which entered from a lateral angle rather than directly from the front) and the absence of a suicide note. Additionally, no painting materials were found at the scene, and the revolver was never conclusively linked to Van Gogh.
Forensic and Historical Analysis
Modern forensic analysis adds complexity to the debate. The location of the wound—below the ribcage rather than in the head or heart—was atypical for suicide. Additionally, witnesses described Van Gogh as being relatively calm in his final days, showing no clear signs of suicidal intent.
In 2020, the revolver believed to be the weapon used in his death was auctioned, but it provided no definitive answers. The rusted and corroded state of the gun did align with being buried in a field for decades, but no forensic evidence remained to draw concrete conclusions.
Post-Impressionism...Van Gogh's Style.
The tendency towards Expressionism in Van Gogh's post-impressionistic artworks like "The Potato Eaters, Portrait of Père Tanguy, L'Arlésienne, At Eternity's Gate" is obvious.
In Van Gogh's paintings with remarkably spontaneous Brushstrokes, while realistic color tones were not his challenge, we see one of the early trials of focusing on feelings. Van Gogh's expressed not the objective reality but rather the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse within a person.
Van Gogh used paint to convey solely inner life, frequently via the depiction of brutal and harsh topics. He used Expressionism not only to express his feelings but also as a tool of societal commentary.
How TO Paint Like Van Gogh?
1. Start with an underpainting
Acrylic paint diluted with water and let dry, or lean oil paint.
2. Divide the artboard into a grid
Divide each side into thirds even. Don't use a ruler - there's no need for precision here to use a subtle darker mixture of burnt sienna and ultraviolet blue to draw your grid on your canvas. It will help you transfer and place large shapes on the canvas. Van Gogh built a camera lens and used it to help him transfer his vision to his canvas in a similar way.
3. Use the same thinned mixture to draw the largest shapes onto your canvas.
Use a smaller brush; I like a size 2 natural bristle hair filbert. If you make mistakes, you can easily wipe this off with a paper towel or rag soaked with some mineral spirits. Study the lines in each grid on your reference photo and transfer those proportions onto your canvas. Again, focus on the placement of the largest and most important shapes. Avoid any detail and don't worry about perfection in drawing and positioning. You will adjust this as you paint. For now, it is more about getting the overall composition.
4. Study the main colors in the image
There is no real formula for mixing these colors. There are many ways to come up with similar colors. But always try to find the best and closest options.
5. copy Van Gogh's paintings
Imitating or copying the paintings will help you more in understanding Van Gogh's paintings, the colors used, and the tools you should use.
Remarkable Paintings By Van Gogh.
Starry Night, 1889
One of his most recognizable Van Gogh had been suffering from mental health concerns before this period, so much so that he hacked off his left ear. Following this episode, he was admitted to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausolea institution in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in 1888 to recover.
The scene depicted in Starry Night was inspired by the view seen by Van Gogh from his asylum bedroom. The artist's technique and the emotive nature of his color usage have become synonymous with the swirling blues of the starry night sky.
Sunflowers, 1889
During his period in Arles, South of France, in 1888-89, Van Gogh painted five paintings of sunflowers in a vase using just yellow and a hint of green.
Van Gogh said that sunflowers symbolized "thanks" to him and put one in his home. Later, while living with him for a brief time, his friend and fellow artist Paul Gaugin expressed his admiration for the works and begged Van Gogh for one of them, which he was granted. This replica is now on display in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
A well Rounded Critique of Van Gogh's Paintings
1. Technique and Brushwork
Van Gogh’s technique evolved significantly over his short but prolific career. Early works, like The Potato Eaters (1885), display dark tones and a more traditional, realist approach, influenced by Dutch genre painting. However, upon moving to Paris in 1886, he encountered the works of Impressionists and Neo-Impressionists, prompting a shift to lighter palettes and more dynamic techniques.
One of Van Gogh’s defining techniques is his impasto, where he applied thick layers of paint, often with visible brushstrokes. This method added texture and a sculptural quality to his canvases, allowing his paintings to engage with light in a unique way. In works like The Starry Night (1889), swirling, rhythmic strokes create a sense of movement and energy, transforming the painted surface into a living, breathing experience.
2. Use of Color
Van Gogh’s color choices were not always naturalistic but instead conveyed emotion and symbolism. He was influenced by the bold, non-naturalistic colors of the Fauves and the color theories of contemporaries like Georges Seurat and Paul Signac. He often used complementary colors to create vibrant contrasts and enhance the emotional impact of his work.
For example, in The Night Café (1888), the red walls and green ceiling create a jarring, almost oppressive atmosphere, reflecting Van Gogh’s intended sense of the room as a place where one could “ruin oneself.” His series of sunflower paintings (1888–1889) demonstrates his mastery of yellow tones, symbolizing warmth, friendship, and the vibrant sun of the South of France.
3. Composition
Van Gogh’s compositions are often dynamic and thoughtfully structured. He used compositional techniques such as diagonals, asymmetry, and the rule of thirds to guide the viewer’s eye through the painting. His landscapes, like Wheatfield with Crows (1890), utilize perspective lines to draw the viewer into the scene, creating both depth and a sense of impending drama.
In his portraits, Van Gogh often focused on the expressiveness of the eyes and the psychological presence of the sitter. His self-portraits, in particular, are remarkable for their introspection and vulnerability, with each brushstroke contributing to the portrayal of his inner turmoil.
4. Subject Matter
Van Gogh’s subjects range widely from portraits and self-portraits to still lifes and landscapes. He often depicted everyday life and the natural world with an empathetic eye. His work with peasants, as seen in The Potato Eaters, reveals his admiration for the working class, while his many still lifes, such as the sunflower series, highlight his ability to find beauty in simplicity.
His landscapes often reflect his deep connection to nature and his fascination with the cycles of life and death. In Cypresses (1889), for example, the towering trees and swirling skies evoke a sense of eternity and the sublime.
5. Emotional and Psychological Depth
Van Gogh’s art is deeply autobiographical, often serving as a reflection of his mental state. His bold colors and frenetic brushwork frequently convey his struggles with mental illness. Paintings like The Starry Night not only depict the physical world but also offer insight into his inner psyche, where the natural world is both beautiful and overwhelming.
His later works, created during his time at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum, are particularly poignant. Wheatfield with Crows, often interpreted as his final work, is filled with a sense of foreboding and melancholy, with dark skies and crows that seem to symbolize death and despair.
6. Influence and Legacy
Van Gogh’s influence on modern art cannot be overstated. His innovative use of color and expressive brushwork paved the way for Expressionism and other 20th-century movements. Artists like Edvard Munch, Egon Schiele, and the German Expressionists drew inspiration from Van Gogh’s ability to convey emotion through paint.
Today, Van Gogh’s works are celebrated not only for their aesthetic brilliance but also for the story of the artist himself—a story of struggle, passion, and an unwavering dedication to his art. His paintings have become cultural icons, and his legacy lives on in the continued fascination with his life and work.
Conclusion
Van Gogh’s art is a masterclass in the union of technique and emotion. His ability to transform everyday scenes into powerful, expressive artworks remains unparalleled. While he struggled during his lifetime, his work now stands as a testament to the enduring power of art to communicate the deepest human experiences.
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