Stockton University students had the opportunity to visit the Van Gogh Museum, which houses many of Vincent van Gogh's life work. The painter was born in Zundert, located in the southern portion of the Netherlands, in 1853. The van Gogh Museum is located in Amsterdam; this four-floor spectacle is famous for storing many of the artist's drawings and paintings prior to attending art school, as well as his pieces that he produced leading up to his death. In particular, this famous museum focuses on van Gogh's interest in self-portraits, peasant life, oil paint, and still life paintings. Exhibit information indicated that he would create a different piece of art work almost every day of the year. The Van Gogh Museum displays letters that he wrote to his family members and friends while he was in various countries, exploring his creative side. Typically these letters had accompanying audio recordings to help the audience gain a better understanding of the process that he took to either start or complete his tasks.
*One of Vincent Van Gogh's self portraits
His unique style is known for its thick brush strokes and use of color. In his letters he explained to his family members that the use of color and brush strokes would change depending on how he was feeling from day to day. Although, van Gogh grew up with a very religious family he suffered from major depression and mental illness. Throughout his life, he lived with his parents, or his brother, Theo, would pay for his living expenses so he could follow his dream and paint. According to the museum, he completed over 700 paintings and 500 drawings during his life, many of which focused on his interest in peasant life, and the countryside that he deeply admired.
*A painting of the tree by Van Gogh
Throughout his art school career he formed relationships with Paul Gauguin, Geordes Seurat, Emily Bernard, and others who have their work displayed at this beautiful museum. Vincent van Gogh, reinterpreted some of their paintings, and added a twist with his expressive style. The museum itself would not have been formed without the efforts of his brother, Theo, who passed away six months after Vincent, and his sister-in-law, Johanna Gogh-Bonger, who kept trying to gain recognition for his artwork after his suicide. After her death in 1925, her son Vincent Willem van Gogh, began working on the project and later became the founder of the Van Gogh Museum. He dedicated his life to both his uncle, and father, and the museum by visiting almost each day until death. He donated his personal collections of van Gogh, in order to ensure that it would be shared with the world forever, and the museum was built by the Dutch state and opened on June 3, 1973. Today this museum is one of the most popular art museums in the world.
Wow what a wonderful opportunity! I'd love the chance to be able to see more of his work in real life and not just through the internet or pictures. That's amazing that not only you got to see his art work but also personal letters and other objects. He was such a talented artist it's a shame that his mental illness took over him. It's great that his family was so fond of him, proud of his work and supported him and that they allowed the public to be able to see his pieces and see more of his personal life.
ReplyDeleteIt was really neat that you got to go to the Van Gogh Museum. I recently visited the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, which had some of Van Gogh's work on display; it is truly breathtaking. I think it is really cool that the museum focused on Van Gogh's life as well as his art. I learned a lot that I didn't know about Van Gogh in this article and I loved learning about how his family worked so hard to ensure that his work was appreciated and on display for the world. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI went to a Van Gogh exhibit when he was featured at the Philadelphia art museum. I absolutely love him and his paintings, he is probably one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteVan Gogh has been a favorite of mine forever! I find his paintings soothing yet captivating. I hope some day I get the opportunity to visit Amsterdam and visit this museum as well.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that Van Gogh's brother paid for his living expenses so that he could follow his dream as a painter! Sounds like a good brother. LOL
Thank you for sharing your journey!
Hi, Kyle! It's incredible to think that you had the chance to see such famous works of art in person. Van Gogh was an unusual character, so it must have been fascinating to see aspects of his personal life alongside his paintings.
ReplyDeleteI took an Art Appreciation course last semester and studied a lot of Van Gogh's work. His art really tells a story, especially through his usage of color displaying emotions. In my class we focused mainly on his artwork and breakkgnit down, we didn't learn about his personal life. It was interesting to receive more insight ablit his family life and the tradgedies he had faced.
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit the Van Gogh Museum. Art is all around us. Do we ever just examine art and dissect a message? In your blog you state that he would paint everyday and according to his strokes and color usage, he would display how he was feeling that day. When you look at the art is essentially telling a story just by color usage. It is very powerful and creates an emotional connection for the viewer. Maybe he used dark colors one day and he was feeling depressed or sad. Maybe he used bright colors because he was happy and excited. Such a great experience to view all of Van Gogh's works of art. You are very lucky.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful painting. I like how his technique with color and brush strokes changed depending on what he was feeling that day. I think this really shows in his paintings and definitely makes you feel what he was feeling.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an amazing experience, I was an art major and I dreamed of going to the Van Gogh museum! I love how each and every stroke has meaning, altered in the slightest would change the whole mood of the work. What was your favorite work by him??
ReplyDeleteVan Gogh's art work is awesome. When I saw someone did a blog I had to read and see what you experienced. This was very informational some of the things that were written I never knew. You never know a persons life and what they have to endure.Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an art junkie but I do appreciate all aspects of art very much. To me, it is a way someone can freely express themselves in so many different ways and techniques possible. From a young age I'm sure all of us have been taught to about Van Gogh and maybe even recreated his work in art classes. I think it's so amazing that these students were able to see his work up close and personal. I also did not know his use of color and brush strokes would change depending on how he was feeling from day to day. What a neat fun fact!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Van Gogh's story! I have not visited this museum, as I have yet to visit Europe, but it is definitely on my bucket list. I have had the pleasure of seeing various works by Van Gogh at the Smithsonian Museum of Art in Washington, DC, and at the Philadelphia Art Museum. He was truly gifted and I'm glad you were able to visit the museum founded by his family- it's a great testament to his memory!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about your experience. I didn't know they had a museum like this. I really enjoyed learning through everything that you've said. I'm so jealous you were able to see his work up close and personal. I love his art, that must have been so amazing. Thank you for sharing this experience!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing opportunity. I wrote a paper on Van Gogh regarding his depression (manic depression to be exact) and how that influenced his paintings, particularly his Starry Night. Just having to read about his accomplishments left a profound impression within me. I could not imagine what view his museum, in his hometown, with all his many other paintings must have felt like. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for introducing the Van Gogh Museum! I was not a big fan of Van Gogh before, but I think I would like to explore more of his artwork after reading your blog post. I learned a little about him through movies. Now, I want to have an opportunity to visit the Van Gogh Museum one day!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love art! This is such an amazing experience! I can't say that I would be able to name Van Goghs' work, but I would love to go to the museum and learn about his work.
ReplyDeleteThis must have been an amazing experience! I got my AA in Studio Art and I've always loved and admired Van Gogh's art style. I remember seeing some of his works in Philadelphia and I was taken aback. I would love to visit this museum someday!
ReplyDeleteVincent Van Gogh is one of my favorite artists. You were so lucky to see his life’s work up close and personal. It is also nice you were able to learn about his life though his art as well as artifacts like letters and audio recordings. I found it interesting that he said his color choice depended on how he was feeling. I would like to know more about what certain colors and styles he felt represented a certain mood and if that would change how I view any of his pieces. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteVan Gogh is one of my favorite artists in history. He has such a unique perspective on the world and it must have been so interesting to see all the history of his life's work up close. For me his thick brush stroke technique really brings his paintings to life and adds another perspective.
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