In comparing my two work's of art entitled, "The Harvest" Ink Drawing on paper 1889 and "The Emperor Moth" oil on canvas (1889), I chose pieces by the same Dutch artist, Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853-1890). According to his biography in: www.Artcyclopedia.com, Van Gogh "suffered from bouts of recurrent mental illness"and originally, began his career as a draftsman and painter ten years before his death. He was known for dynamic brushstrokes in drawings and paintings of the landscape and women working the farmland. But, most remember his style or technique that pioneered a change in the art world known as Post-Impressionism or, the birth of modern art between 1886 and 1892. In the drawing, van Gogh uses a variety of design elements including vivid color, distinctive lines that are symbolic in dynamic brushstrokes which convey direction and movement through the vast wheat field. The thick application of paint within emphasizes depth of this representation of naturalistic subject matter. In conclusion, this piece of art appears to have a calming effect of the open field which van Gogh often captured on canvas.
This oil painting evokes life of the butterfly as the artist has captured this natural beauty of nature. The short life of the butterfly is viewed in foliage of vivid primary and secondary colors. It is in contrast to my first painting because of the absence of a horizon and straight lines which keep the eyes watching the butterfly's movements. With many contour lines within this painting, the viewer never stops to focus on the frolicking winged creature. Thus, with his innovative bold use of secondary color contrasts of green with a spot of red that brings it to life, along with different shading of tertiary colors including blue-green and green-yellow. Here, the artist creates life and movement to the image, therefore, it appears more life-like. This one transforms the viewer into a plush forest just looking at his painting gives a light, warm and playful impression, not like the monochromatic, somber colors which depicts laboring a long time in the fields. However, here we can also see how his reputation for dynamic brushwork adds contour lines to express movement of the butterfly fluttering among the foliage. This one is among his best as van Gogh completed most of his finest work during the last two years of his life.
In conclusion, the oil painting seems more exciting and life-like in contrast to the drawing that depicts the peasant work day, and the death of the wheat plant in "The Harvest." The colorful emperor moth is nocturnal and lives but a short while. It seems to symbolize the playful, brevity of life, quite the opposite of his apparent ill condition due to his deteriorating health.
Gwendolyn Lane
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