Thoughts on Vincent van Gogh

I was not sure how to go about doing this research as I did not want to copy the history of Vincent van Gogh and was not sure what was actually wanted.
However, I decided to show a few drawings with my comments about how I see them.

Cradle....  pencil on paper

© Bridgeman Education

First, Cradle, which looks like an early drawing. I could not find the date it was drawn but what I like about it is the attention to tone, composition and the freedom of expression, nothing tight about it and the area of light around the baby in the cradle.

                                               At the plough.  pencil, pen & brown ink on paper
                                                    from the series representing the four seasons.
                                                                                © Bridgeman Education










At the Plough looks like a later drawing. Again I could not find a date of when it was drawn but the marks seemed more confident. Very assured and a wonderful sense of composition and movement. The lines indicating trees above the animal balance the strength of the man. The figure above the horizon balancing the shadow of the animal. The size of the paper is interesting as is wider than the conventional rectangle which gives a great sense of the movement of the plough along the field.

In the orchard 1883 pen. transferred to lithograph
© Bridgeman Education

In the Orchard ( 1888) to me shows the extreme sensitivity in the drawing of the trees framing the buildings, the use of space to convey distance and the mark making of the earth to show the movement of having just dug it.

In the corner of the park 1888 Ink and pencil on paper
© Bridgeman Education

In the corner of the park (1888) shows how he has developed the marks to indicate every shape and form of shrubs, from the direction of the lines, amount of pressure, straight versus curved, stippling of all sorts and a great sense of tone. The progression from the Cradle drawing shows how he is experimenting with line and leaving the early marks of shading and inventing new ways to show form and shadow.

Rocky ground at Montmajor
1888-89 pen.reed pen & ink on paper
© Bridgeman Education

Rocky ground at Montmajor (1888-89) seems far looser and as though his use of line and tippling is now part of his vocabulary. There is a freedom in this that seems missing from the previos drawing.

Sorrow 1882 lithograph
© Bridgeman Education

Man with his head in his hands
© Bridgeman Education

Sorrow and the Man with his head in his hands both show the immense sadness and despair that seems to come from Van Gogh, through these drawings. They are not using his lively marks, they are far more considered which, perhaps, is more appropriate for the subject. The use of pure line in Sorrow is more eloquent because of it's starkness. The pregnant woman, sitting naked touches the viewer more because of the vulnerability.
The contrast of the Man with his head in his hands is that it is dark, full of shadow, texture and total despair. The hands in his face being lighter, his eyes covered, the wrinkles near the eyes, all suggest suffering to great to show his face.

This selection of drawings, to me, show the variation and emotional range of his drawings.