1. Vincent van Gogh The Power of Color

2. Vincent van Gogh  Dutch painter, 1853-1890  Color was his chief symbol of expression  One of the most well-known artists in the world  Influenced by his family and friends and the world around him  Highly intelligent, emotional, and had a difficult life  He symbolizes the “tortured artist”

3. Vincent van Gogh had a very troubled life and had a very hard time getting along with others. Many people thought he was crazy. He made other people feel uncomfortable, but he desperately wanted to connect with people. For that reason, he painted many portraits. When he had no one to paint, he painted portraits of himself.

5. Van Gogh only painted for 10 years, but in that time he produced over 900 paintings. His works are usually recognizable for their strong colors, noticeable brushstrokes, and thick layers of paint.

6. The Starry Night, June 1889

7. Bullied or Suicide There is great speculation about the death of Vincent van Gogh. For many years, it was believed that mental illness drove Van Gogh to suicide. New evidence shows that Van Gogh was shot accidentally by some teenaged boys who had long been tormenting and teasing Van Gogh. It is believed that he lied about the shooting to protect the boys who had, in fact, been bullying him.

8. What do you notice first in this painting? How does Van Gogh use color? How does the background color affect the painting? What do you think the mood of this painting is? What does this painting make you think about? Van Gogh painted this painting for the artist Paul Gauguin. What do you think he was thinking about as he painted? Do you think this is a nice present? Why or why not?