This self portrait was painted shortly after Van Gogh had returned from the hospital
Vincent Van Gogh's Background Story
Vincent Van Gogh when he was 13
Vincent Van Gogh’s full name is
Vincent Willem Van Gogh. He was born in the year 1853 and died in 1890. He was
a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential
figures in the history of Art. Throughout his life, he had created about 2100
artworks which includes landscapes, still life, portraits and self-portraits
which are characterized with bold colors and expressive brushworks.
Van Gogh was born into an
upper-middle class family so he was serious, quiet and thoughtful ever since he
was a child. His family went on frequent walks, it had helped Van Gogh to instilled
a great love of nature in the future artist.
When Van Gogh was 11 years old, he
was deeply unhappy at the boarding school that he was attending but he was
still able to complete his studies there. He would draw from time to time,
however there was no sign of his special artistic talent.
When he was 13 years old, he had
earned good marks especially in his language subjects. Though, he had quit
school half way throughout his second academic year with unknown reasons. Van
Gogh did not continue his studies.
When he was 16 years old, Van Gogh’s
uncle had found him a job as a Trainee at the International Art Dealer Goupil
& Cie. He was taken into the branch that his uncle was working at. Van Gogh
was transferred to London in 1873 in which in the same year he had turned to
religion in order to cure his depression as well as visiting various Art
Museums at the time.
Vincent Van Gogh when he was 19
In 1875, he was transferred to Paris
and at that time he had become more religious as the letters that he had written
to Theo would be full of Bible quotes and accounts of church services and
sermons. Though Van Gogh was interested in art but he was not really like his
job at the art firm so he was dismissed in 1876. After being dismissed, he had
worked at a boy’s boarding school as an unpaid assistant teacher, however, he
had found out that there was a salaried position in a private school where he
was allowed to preach at the school.
Afterwards, his uncle would always
helped him in finding a job as well as helping him to continue his studies in
theology but all his family’s effort was for nothing as he had lack motivation
in studying. He would prefer to wander around the city so when his uncle saw
this, he had advised Van Gogh to forget about his studies.
Van Gogh would often end his letters
that he had sent to Theo with sketches of what he had seen. So when Theo saw
this, he had advised Van Gogh to concentrate more on his drawing. When he had
received the support of his brother, it had made him realized that he would be
able to serve God as an Artist. He would practice with other artists and seeing
that he had no job, Theo, would send him money from time to time.
Van Gogh’s family in exception to
Theo, were very disappointed with his decision in becoming an artist as they
see the life of an artist to be something that is considered a failure in life.
Though, Van Gogh persisted and he had left his home to continue practicing his
drawing technique with Mauve, the person who taught Van Gogh the basics in
water color and oil paints.
Historical Information
Ø Artwork:
Self Portrait With Bandaged Ear
Ø Artist’s
Name: Vincent Van Gogh
Ø Artwork
Produced: January 1889
Ø Medium
Used: Canvas, Oil Paint
Ø Dimension:
60cm x 49cm
Ø Venue
of Exhibition: Courtauld Gallery, London, England
Story Behind The Artwork
Van
Gogh had lived together with a Post-Impressionist French Artist, Paul Gauguin
in the Yellow House, France. They had agreed to lived together as they had the
same interest and that they would be able to complete various paintings
together. Though as time passes by, Gauguin wanted to leave as the similarities
that were intriguing at first were starting to be something that is not sought
for as Gauguin prefers to draw something from his imagination but Van Gogh
preferred to draw something that is in front of him. Due to this, Van Gogh had
started to feel devastated after Gauguin had voiced out his decision.
So,
after they had lunch together in the house, Gauguin went out for a walk in the
area. He felt as though there was someone following him so when he turned
around, he saw Van Gogh with his head down while holding a razor on his hand
with a possibility to harm Gauguin due to his will in leaving the house. When
Van Gogh felt as though his presence was seen, he immediately turned around and
went inside the house. Sensing that something dangerous was going to happen,
Gauguin spent a night in a hotel leaving the devastated Van Gogh alone in the
house. As he knew that he was alone, he cut off a portion of his ear and
wrapped it with a newspaper and went out to a brothel nearby. He gave the ear
to a prostitute named Rachel while saying “Keep this object like a Treasure”
and went back home after stating what he wanted to say. It was described that
Van Gogh looked like he had a few drinks as he was walking in an unstable state
so Rachel did not pay much heed to what he had said.
When
morning arises, Gauguin went back home to find a crowd and police in front of
his house. As he entered the house, he saw blood everywhere and the trails had
led him to Van Gogh’s bedroom which was located in the upper floor. He was
found lying down on his bed in which he and his bed was covered with blood.
Just by seeing the condition of the house and body, the police had presumed
that Van Gogh was dead though, Gauguin thought differently as he approaches the
body and found out that Van Gogh was still breathing and alive.
As
Gauguin told the police of Van Gogh’s current condition, he had asked them to
bring Van Gogh to the hospital and asked a favor of the police to say that he
had returned to Paris if Van Gogh asked for him.
Van
Gogh was taken to the hospital, when he had woken up, he had little memories of
what had happened to him and the things that he had done to Gauguin. So, he
asks to meet and talk with Gauguin as he wanted to save the friendship that was
built and that he had already planned for new paintings that they would be able
to draw together.
Resolution
Van
Gogh was determined to recover from his illness by continuing to paint as it
was his own way to express himself and that he was still hoping to continue to
be on good terms with Gauguin as he had wrote letters to Gauguin to forgive him
for what he had done to him.
Speculation On Story Behind The
Artwork
There
has been speculations that the cause of Van Gogh to cut off a portion of his
ear was because of his brother, Theo, was going to get married which was in the
same time as when Gauguin had voiced out that he wanted to leave the Yellow
House.
Another
speculation was that Van Gogh had cut off his ear because of his own
instability as he could not control his mental well which had caused him to do
so.
Point Of Interest
Van
Gogh was interested in the Japanese Print in which he had painted the Geishas
in a Landscape by Sato Torakiyo in his Self Portrait With Bandaged Ear. This
shows that his painting may have a link between the actions that he had done and
the Japanese Custom of Shinju where the client and prostitute would send sealed
love letters with finger nails, hair, blood and fingers. Which can be seen as
Van Gogh had given his ear to a prostitute after cutting it off not long after.
The
painting “Self Portrait With Bandaged Ear” was painted right after he had
received treatment for his ear. It is a symbol that he has acceptance what he
had done as well as his mental illness that he wishes to overcome by painting
his experiences and that it makes a difference from other paintings because he
has treated his illness as his life experiences.
In The Making
The characteristic
of his painting is that it is overpowered by Long Vertical Brushstrokes as well
as most of the element is controlled and not chaotic, however, the face of Van
Gogh has various colors which suggest confusion in his expression which is
either he is confused with his mental self or the reasons as to why his friend
had left him. The color in the painting seems original though it might have
changed due to chemical alteration.
Vincent Van Gogh Relation to Artwork
Van
Gogh had suffered from psychotic episodes and delusions which was portrayed in
his paintings as well as the speculation that he may have bipolar disorder.
Though instead of grieving over the fact that he has a psychological disorder,
he treats his experiences and struggles as an important part in his experience.
There are also speculations on Hereditary Metabolic Disorder as his youngest
sister had spent half of her life in an insane asylum.
The
reasons as to why he likes to use yellow in his artwork is that he may have
been because he had drink too much of his favorite liquor that contains thujone
which causes the consumer to see the world in yellow tint. Though, the
researchers had stated that the consumer must consume over 8 liters of the
liquor which may not be the main cause of Van Gogh’s state. The other cause
would be the overmedication of Digitalis which he had received from his
psychiatrist, causes the consumer to see the world in yellow/green tint.
Van
Gogh had ended his life at an age of 37 in which he had shot himself with a
revolver due to the continuation of his depression as well as his insecurity
for his future as an artist because he had not sell much of his work and did
not have a stable income. So he had decided to end his life as he hoped that he
would not be a burden to his brother, Theo and he had died in the arms of his
brother as well.
References
ØANGIER,
N. (1991, December 21). New
Explanation Given For van Gogh's Agonies.
Retrieved from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/21/arts/new-explanation-given-for-van-gogh-s-agonies.html
ØBERMAN,
A. (2015, August 4). 8
artists who suffered from mental illness.
Retrieved from mother nature network: https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/8-artists-who-suffered-mental-illness
ØFAST,
J. A. (2012, March 8). Did
Vincent Van Gogh Have Bipolar Disorder?
Retrieved from bphope
magazine: https://www.bphope.com/blog/did-vincent-van-gogh-have-bipolar-disorder/
ØJones,
J. (2000, September 9). Self-Portrait
With a Bandaged Ear, Van Gogh (1889).
Retrieved from the guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2000/sep/09/art
ØSelf
Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889 by Vincent Van Gogh. (n.d.).
Retrieved from Vincent van Gogh: https://www.vincentvangogh.org/self-portrait-with-bandaged-ear.jsp
ØSelf-Portrait
with Bandaged Ear.
(n.d.).
Retrieved from The Courtyard Gallery: https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/collection/impressionism-post-impressionism/vincent-van-gogh-self-portrait-with-bandaged-ear
ØSelf-Portrait
with Bandaged Ear.
(n.d.).
Retrieved from art and architecture: http://www.artandarchitecture.org.uk/images/gallery/580145e8.html
ØPotrait of A
Mother. (n.d.). Retrieved from wikiart: https://www.wikiart.org/en/paul-gauguin/portrait-of-a-mother-1894
ØVan Gogh Museum, A. (n.d.). Vincent Van Gogh's Life and Work. Retrieved from Van Gogh Museum: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/vincent-van-goghs-life-and-work/van-goghs-life-1853-1890
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