Isabella Flores
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter considered to be one of the greatest artists of the Post-Impressionist period. During his short 10-year career, he created a vivid personal style, characterised by bold colours, emphatic brushwork, and contoured forms. Van Gogh was largely self-taught, believing that drawing was the root of everything. He took painting lessons in The Hague from his cousin by marriage, the celebrated artist Anton Mauve, who taught him the basics of painting in watercolour and oils. Van Gogh also learned from studying impressionism and pointillism, and from artists such as Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jean-François Millet, and Camille Corot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Apprenticeship | Apprenticed to The Hague branch of the art dealers Goupil and Co. |
| Art dealer | Worked for Goupil in London from 1873 to May 1875 and in Paris until April 1876 |
| First painting lessons | Took painting lessons in The Hague from celebrated artist Anton Mauve, his cousin by marriage |
| First commission | Given by his uncle: twelve drawings of city views in The Hague |
| Learned basics of painting | Learned the basics of painting in watercolour and oils from Mauve, visiting his studio almost every day |
| Practice | Practiced drawing fanatically, working outdoors and out of doors |
| Self-taught | Believed drawing was "the root of everything" and largely taught himself to paint |
| Use of colour | Used bold, swirling strokes and a rich variety of colours |
| Brushwork | Used directional brushwork, creating a unique sense of movement and vibration |
| Painting style | Used a "matte" quality in his work, laying the paint out on towels to absorb oil |
| Use of light | Experimented with lighting in his studio using variable shutters |
| Interest in impressionism | Learned about impressionism and pointillism, adding to the vibrancy of his works |
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What You'll Learn
Van Gogh's apprenticeship at Goupil and Co
Vincent van Gogh's first formal job after leaving school was art-related; he started working for the Hague branch of Goupil & Cie, an international print publishing firm and art dealer, on 30 July 1869. The Hague location was opened thanks to the influence of Vincent van Gogh's uncle, Cent, who was also an art dealer and a partner at the firm.
Van Gogh began as a junior apprentice at Goupil & Cie, working under the management of H.G. Tersteeg. During his time at the firm, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a junior assistant and providing administrative support to senior sales associates. He also started a personal collection of prints, photos, and engravings he obtained through the firm. The experience nurtured a creative seed in the young man, bringing him into contact with Europe's art centres and a wide range of work.
Van Gogh's time at Goupil & Cie also exposed him to the culture and art of England when he transferred to the London branch in 1873. However, his relationship with his colleagues in London became strained, and he was moved to the Paris branch in 1875. Unfortunately, the move did not improve his outlook, and he no longer found being an art dealer appealing. He engrossed himself in Bible reading and suffered a personal crisis, probably due to a rejection by the daughter of his Brixton boarding house landlady.
Van Gogh left Goupil & Cie in late March 1876, and it is believed that he was fired for returning to Holland for two weeks over Christmas in 1875 without permission. Despite his relatively successful stint as an art dealer, Van Gogh only began painting in earnest years later.
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His time in London and Paris
Vincent van Gogh's time in London and Paris was a formative period in his life, exposing him to new cultures, traditions, and artistic influences that would shape his later work.
Van Gogh first arrived in London in May 1873, transferring there from The Hague branch of the art dealers Goupil & Cie. He settled in a suburban boarding house and later moved to a cheaper guest house in the Brixton neighbourhood. He enjoyed the English way of life, the city's parks and museums, and English art and literature. He frequently visited the Royal Academy to view works by artists like John Constable and the Pre-Raphaelites. He also developed an interest in English pastimes such as gardening and rowing on the Thames. London's size, social reform movements, and Victorian traditions, including Christmas, also made a strong impression on him. He later reminisced fondly about his walks over Westminster Bridge on his commute to work in Covent Garden.
In late 1874, Van Gogh was temporarily transferred to the Paris branch of Goupil & Cie, returning to London in January 1875. He was permanently transferred to Paris in the spring of 1875. During his time in Paris, he formed a taste for Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and other Dutch masters, as well as contemporary French painters like Jean-François Millet and Camille Corot, whose influence lasted throughout his life.
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Learning from Rembrandt and Dutch masters
Vincent van Gogh's artistic career lasted only ten years, from 1880 to 1890. During this time, he created a vivid personal style, known for its bold colours, emphatic brushwork, and contoured forms.
Van Gogh's interest in art began when he was apprenticed to an art dealer, Goupil and Co., at the age of 16. Through this work, he was exposed to the works of Old Masters like Rembrandt and other Dutch painters such as Frans Hals. He also developed a preference for contemporary French painters like Jean-François Millet and Camille Corot, whose influence lasted throughout his life.
In the mid-1870s, while working for Goupil and Co. in Paris, Van Gogh was particularly struck by the Rembrandts in the Louvre. In 1877, he saw the master's etchings in Amsterdam's Trippenhuis. Initially, Van Gogh admired Rembrandt as a man and a Christian, but when he decided to become an artist himself, he came to appreciate Rembrandt's artistic genius.
In October 1885, Van Gogh travelled to Amsterdam specifically to visit the newly opened Rijksmuseum, where he studied Rembrandt's technique extensively. He wrote to his brother, Theo, about his admiration for Rembrandt and Frans Hals, and his desire to connect with these artists through his own work. Van Gogh saw Rembrandt as a realist who understood that nature must always be the starting point for an artist. He also appreciated Rembrandt's ability to portray the supernatural as if it were something natural, calling his religious work 'metaphysical magic'.
Van Gogh tried to emulate Rembrandt's style in his own paintings, such as "Van Gogh Half Figure of an Angel after Rembrandt", which he painted in 1889, four years after his visit to the Rijksmuseum. He also created an interpretation in colour of a 17th-century etching by Rembrandt, "The Raising of Lazarus", in 1890.
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His preference for French painters Millet and Corot
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter, considered one of the greatest artists of the Post-Impressionist period. His career lasted only ten years, from 1880 to 1890, during which he created a vivid personal style, characterised by bold colours, emphatic brushwork, and contoured forms.
Van Gogh's preference for the French painters Millet and Corot was influenced by his early life and work. Growing up in a small village in the Brabant region of the southern Netherlands, he spent his free time wandering the countryside and observing nature. At the age of 16, he was apprenticed to an art dealer in The Hague, where he was exposed to the works of Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Frans Hals. However, it was the contemporary French painters Jean-François Millet and Camille Corot who captured his imagination and influenced him throughout his life.
Van Gogh admired Millet's focus on peasant life and his respectful depiction of peasants, which was uncommon for the time. He closely studied Millet's artworks, often making exact copies of paintings like "The Sower" and "The Potato Eaters". Van Gogh practised drawing the human body's posture and form through these studies, and he aspired to present himself as a peasant painter. In his paintings, he wanted to communicate the hardships of peasant life.
Van Gogh's time in Paris further influenced his style, as he experimented with colour, light, and new subjects. His work became more colourful and expressive, and he began to develop his unique approach to painting. While Millet remained an inspiration, Van Gogh's own experiences and interpretations of peasant life became more prominent in his art.
After Paris, Van Gogh moved to Arles in the South of France, where he returned to peasant themes with a fresh perspective. He created harvest scenes and sower paintings, inspired by Millet but with his own distinct style. Van Gogh's paintings during this period showcase his use of broad areas of colour and clear colour contrasts, such as in his work "The Sower" (1888).
Van Gogh's preference for Millet and Corot reflects his interest in peasant life and his desire to portray it honestly and respectfully. Through his studies of their works and his own interpretations, he developed his artistic skills and found his unique voice as a painter.
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Lessons from cousin Anton Mauve
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter, considered to be one of the greatest artists of the Post-Impressionist period. During his short 10-year artistic career, Van Gogh created a vivid personal style, known for its bold colours, emphatic brushwork, and contoured forms.
Van Gogh's first cousin once removed, Anton Mauve, was a leading Dutch realist painter and a significant early influence on the aspiring artist. Van Gogh took painting lessons from Mauve in The Hague, where he learned the basics of painting in watercolour and oils. Van Gogh visited his studio almost every day.
Mauve, a master colourist, was known for his paintings of peasants working in the fields and flocks of sheep. His paintings of sheep were especially popular with American patrons. Van Gogh, too, would develop a fondness for painting nature and landscapes.
Mauve also taught Van Gogh about the importance of perspective. Van Gogh's uncle gave him his first commission: twelve drawings of city views in The Hague, which helped him develop his skills in this area.
In addition to his technical skills, Mauve also influenced Van Gogh's approach to art. Van Gogh once wrote to his brother, Theo, about Mauve: "I’ve written on it 'Souvenir de Mauve Vincent & Theo'". This suggests that Van Gogh saw Mauve as a source of inspiration and a mentor.
Despite their close relationship, Van Gogh and Mauve had a falling out in early 1882, after Mauve learned of Van Gogh's relationship with Sien Hoornik, a former prostitute, and her young daughter. Despite this, Van Gogh continued to hold Mauve in high esteem and dedicated one of his most iconic paintings, "Pink Peach Trees", to his cousin-in-law's memory after his sudden death in 1888.
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Frequently asked questions
Vincent van Gogh was largely self-taught. He believed that drawing was "the root of everything" and mastered black and white before moving on to colour. He took painting lessons in The Hague from his cousin Anton Mauve, who taught him the basics of painting in watercolour and oils.
Van Gogh was inspired by impressionism and pointillism, which he learned from studying the works of French painters Jean-François Millet and Camille Corot. He also admired Rembrandt and Frans Hals. Van Gogh's work is known for its bold, swirling brushstrokes, use of colour, and thick application of paint.
Van Gogh's early paintings did not live up to the expectations of his uncle, Cornelis Marinus, who owned a gallery of contemporary art in Amsterdam. Marinus commissioned drawings of The Hague from Van Gogh, but was disappointed with the results. Van Gogh then worked on single figures in black and white, which gained him only criticism at the time but were later recognised as early masterpieces.
