Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Amsterdam - Vincent Van Gogh

artrenewal.org

I visited the Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam during my stay. As much I liked the layout of the museum, the lighting, and the chronological order of the painting and description of the social surroundings of art, Van Gogh's life, and location. I thought that he was trying to hard to show the working class. 

A lot of Van Gogh's work is brightly coloured and abstract. However when he did his series of "Potato Eaters" thought to be finished in 1885. He showed the working class in dull, brown colours, unflattering faces and solemn expressions. Compared to self portraits of himself, which showed him in bright energetic colours, thoughtfully gazing at the viewers.
'Peasant Woman'
dailynom.com
 According to the museum, he considered himself an artist of the working class. Capturing and documenting 
their work and life style. I don't think that's a title someone can give themselves.

He also was famous for his painting of shoes. Most people had the impression that these shoes were shoes he had seen in the "Potato Eaters" houses or around farms. Upon further inspection they are shoes he purchased from a flea market, walked around through mud in them, then painted. 

Van Gogh, if he was alive today. Would probably be one of those middle class / upper middle classed kids who buys tatty cloths from Brick Lane or wear jogging bottoms with snap backs to try and play it off as cool. 

Other than that it's amazing and a must see. 
Self Portrait
evangogh.org

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