Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Self-Portrait with Straw Hat
(1887)
“You wouldn't recognize Vincent, he has changed so much....
he doctor says that he is now perfectly fit again. He is making
tremendous strides with his work....He is also far livelier than
he used to be and is popular with people.”
—Theo van Gogh to their mother
In Paris, Vincent learned the Impressionist
painting technique. The shimmering effect
comes from placing dabs of different colors
side by side on the canvas. At a distance, the
two colors blend in the eye of the viewer to
become a third color. Here, Vincent uses
separate strokes of blue, yellow, green, and
red to create a brown beard—but a brown
that throbs with excitement.
Still Lifes, such as
Cabbages and Onions
(1887)
Vincent quickly developed his own style—thicker paint, broad,
s w i rl ing br ushst rokes, a nd
brighter, clashing colors that
make even inanimate objects
s fe. em to pu l sate w it h l i fe.
The many different colors are
supposed to blend together,
but you'd have to back up to
Belgium before these colors
resolve into focus.
Self-Portrait with Gray Felt Hat
(1887-1888)
“He has painted one or two portraits which have turned out
well, but he insists on working for nothing. It is a pity that he
shows no desire to earn some money because he could easily do
so here. But you can't change people.”
—Theo van Gogh to their mother
Despite his new sociability, Vincent never
quite fit in with his Impressionist friends.
As he developed into a good painter, he
became anxious to strike out on his own.
Also, he thought the social life of the big
city was distracting him from serious work.
In this painting, his face screams out from a
swirling background of molecular activity.
He wanted peace and quiet, a place where
he could throw himself into his work com-
pletely. He headed for the sunny south of
France.
