3-19-09

RESEARCH INFO

known artist:
Vincent Van Gogh (mar 30 1853 - jul 29 1890). severe depression, died of suicide. becoming an artist was part of following his family's tradition. he was obsessed with religion. He didnt have much art training, much of it was self-taught.

he painted in the style of impressionism, which uses visible bruststrokes, light emphasis, ordinary subject matter, shows movement, and expresses humans. he also painted Expressionism, which is altering an image in some way for a more personal or emotional affect.
some of his painting traits were thick brush strokes, heightened color, expressive line. similar looking paintings are "starry night" and "cafe."

Peasants- van gogh liked to paint peasants, themes of urban/working life, middle-class, poor, underpriviledged, etc.


Analysis

...of the peasant scene itself- the people just being in this setting shows their lower class; upper class people didnt do field work. the people in the painting dont appear to be high-living quality. Their worn clothes and shoes, the straw hat, the hand sickles, contribute to the peasant look.

this picture represents the lower class, which is big because so much of society in Europe at that time, the 1800s, consisted of peasants.

-What place do humans hold? the oxen in the back, associated with the plow (or whatever machine it is) represent how despite the low class of peasants, they are still above animals.

-What does it mean to be human? everybody needs a break sometimes. just a simple afternoon nap. van gogh did a good job of portaying humanism, in peasant life. This painting captures these people in their daily life, and here they are, despite any hardships in life, just taking a simple nap. One of the simplest human activities, carried out by all humans. despite class, race, gender. we still all have so much in common, one thing being the need for a break every once in a while.




this is the gist of my project at this point. a lot of this described is in my power point, some word for word.

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