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Vincent's Chair with His Pipe,  Arles:December 1888
Oil on canvas  
93.0 X 73.5 cm
London National Gallery



        Vincent Willem Van Gogh (1853-1890), was a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist. He began drawing as a child, but, did not start painting until his twenties's. In his early adult years he worked with art dealers. For a while, he considered the life of a pastor. He became a missionary in Belgium, sketching people in his spare time. In 1885, while living in Belgium, he decided to start painting. Even though his begining works were dull in color, once he moved to France, in 1886, his works brightened up with bold colors. During his lifetime, he created more than 2100 pieces including oil on canvas, watercolors, sketches, and prints. Throughout his life, Van Gogh struggled with bouts of depression and was hospitalized for mental illness. On July 29,1890, Van Gogh died from an infection steming from a gunshot wound he had received two days prior. Some say it was self inflicted, even though the gun was never found.
   
        I like how Van Gogh uses line to define shape, like at the base of the wall and on the chair. The blue outline on the chair ties it into the the color on the wall. His use of vertical and horizontal lines on the floor tiles gives the piece definition and harmony.  He also uses line to create texture on the chair and the onion box. I chose this piece because of the simplicity of it. It almost has this "loner" effect. (Even though I know it has a companion piece painted by Gauguin). I have a sketch of this, that a student drew for me, on a small piece of scratch paper. Not only is it one of my favorites but, it was one one of Van Gogh's as well.  



http://www.vggallery.com/painting/p_0498_0499.htm