Van Gogh — The Rise of The Artist
Exploring the journey from the Missionary to the Madman (Part 2).
(Series: Article N0. 2)
Vincent van Gogh believed in the power of nature and the value of humanity that could be found through the simple love of everyday life. He first tried to show this devotion through the position of a pastor, but after the church removed him from the clergy, Vincent poured his passion for life into the paintings he created. His rise as a modern artist also led to the deterioration of his mental and physical health, as he gave his life in pursuit of his art.
This three-part series will detail Van Gogh’s life, his triumphs and tragedies, unfolding his journey from the missionary to the madman.
(If you haven’t read it yet, here is article 1).
Learning To Draw
Vincent learnt his work ethic from his family roots, and he viewed complete diligence and hard work as essential parts of a meaningful existence. So when Van Gogh decided to draw, he attacked the process with the single-minded determination that he had approached all things in his life. Vincent sketched the miners and peasants and copied lessons on anatomy from how-to-draw manuals. He even begged Theo to send him Millet prints to copy.
