Vincent Van Gogh's World

Catalog description

From the Salon des Refuses in 1863 through the first Impressionist showing in 1874 to Cezanne's death in 1906, art underwent a massive change in style and content. Vincent van Gogh's World will investigate this era via the lens of its most famous artist: Vincent van Gogh. In this class, we will study Van Gogh's art and letters as well as the art and literature that inspired him and the sociopolitical milieu in which he moved. We will explore how Van Gogh's physical and mental challenges ultimately culminated in his suicide and will branch out to research how syphilis, absinthe and laudanum impacted the work of various artists and authors, such as Gauguin, Manet, and Toulouse-Lautrec. We will explore how 19th century paints may have caused or exacerbated Renoir's rheumatoid arthritis and how the Franco-Prussian War unsettled Parisian cultural life, including claiming the life of Bazille and turning Monet into a draft dodger. Further, we will discover how childbirth and childrearing practices frequently curbed the artistic production of female artists. Finally, we will study the far-reaching influence of Van Gogh on early Modern art styles.