"The Harvest" by Vincent van Gogh. Oil on canvas, 50.5 x 103 cm. (1890)painted in Auver-sur-Oise in late nineteenth century in 1890, the second
decade of the post-impressionism period. The medium is oil on canvas with
a theme of art in nature based on the content of this famous symbolic
piece.Many believe that this work was the last painting in a group of 13
narrowhorizontal canvases. This style characterized by an intense, dynamic
asymmetrical composition balancing massing elements on scale consisting of
a vast landscape, a turbulent sky, and crows. his work and others by the
artist has wide appeal and importance in the development of modern art.
It measures 50.5 X 103 cm. and is a representational naturalistic work
created with an innovative palette representing the main title subject
matter which employs bright contrast with dynamic brushstrokes
in monochromatic yellow hues to depict a ripened wheat crop. One
content form is a pattern of straight and contour lines in monochromatic
blue hues mixed with bold black dynamic brushstrokes depicting a dark
dark urbulent sky. There are two circular circular clouds positioned
within, a small one on the left side of the piece and a medium-sized one
on the right painted in short circular brushstrokes of light blue-green
contour line. The grass is on scale in various dynamic brushstrokes of
straight lines in monochromatic green hues. Also, the ground around the
grass is painted in straight lines of brown hues positioned in front and on
the bottom sides of the piece and further, emphasized by a brown colored
worn path in contour lines curved to resemble a pair of tire tracks leading
up the center of the work, and disappearing into the center of the
horizon. The path is the center focal point and it divides the main
subject matter vertically, into two triangular-shaped wedges of the
ripe golden-colored crop. There is a flock of crows flying over the
golden-colored crop and out of sight, off the canvas. Often
interpreted as a dark premonition of the artist's death, this work
expresses "sadness and extreme l oneliness" as well as "the health and
restorative forces... in the countryside." This artistic style is known
as instrumental in "setting the world in the direction or many of the
expressionist tendencies in twentieth-century art." This work of art
portrays great anguish while intriguingly beautiful. I sincerely
hope you have fun with my ekphrases!
WORKS CITED
1. Amsterdam - Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam. Image URL: http://www3.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/index.jsp?page=3343&collection=1282&lang=en accessed from: URL: www.amsterdam.info/museums/van_gogh_museum/ (April 23, 2007).
2. Getlein, Mark. "Living with Art," Eighth Edition. McGraw-Hill - 2007. (April 2007).
Peace,
Gwendolyn
Thanks and Credit for solving my paragraph spacing problem - Bonnie Calhoun: Blogger Help Group. 23 Mar 12:08 am.
