Turning Point in Vincent Van Gogh's Life

TURNING POINT IN VINCENT’S LIFE

The year was 1885, when he set about to paint his first masterpiece, The Potato Eaters. All the years of hard work and continuous refinement of techniques had led him to this day, where he proved himself as a painter. In his attempts to continually better himself as an artist, he even enrolled in the Academy of Antwerp, where, after four weeks, he found the formal method of teaching very rigid and realized that this could in no way replace the practical method, that he followed. The turning point came when Vincent put himself heart and soul into his work.

Impressionism, Its Influence on Vincent

Vincent Van Gogh In the hope of exploring new horizons, Vincent landed in Paris and stayed there with Theo for two years. This time is one of the least documented periods of his life. Here he had met the Impressionists like Monet, Pissarro that would later influence his works. When he arrived in Paris, the Impressionists were well on their way to commercial success. Soon, their art was selling well. Even Theo began to stock works by Monet, Degas, Renoir and Pissarro in his Montmartre Gallery and the two brothers would often discuss developments in the art world.

Vincent, by now committed to a painting career, realized that the Impressionists were a powerful force to be reckoned with. His palette began to move away from the darker, traditional colors of his Dutch homeland and started incorporating the more vibrant colors of the Impressionists. His Self-Portrait with A Straw Hat reflects the influence of Impressionism very clearly.

Once he left Paris for Arles, he depicted blossoming fruit trees, views of the town and the surroundings, self-portraits, and landscapes. Here, he also gave free rein to his individuality diverging from the traditional methods of painting that he had worked so hard to master and began squeezing oil paints directly on to the canvas.

Vincent was inspired by Japanese art as well. Japan had only recently opened its ports to outsiders and the western world was fascinated. Vincent began to acquire a substantial collection of Japanese woodblock prints and his paintings during this time reflected the vibrant use of colors favored by Impressionists and the distinct Japanese overtones. This Japanese influence claims an important influence in the artist’s ever changing style.

In Vincent’s words on art, " I have a terrible lucidity at moments when nature is so beautiful. I am not conscious of myself anymore, and the pictures come to me as if in a dream." Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime, The Red Vineyard At Arles and was little known to the art world at the time of his death.