This was a pain to write, but is a quality paper and will pull in a good grade "Excellent work, well-researched and organized"
1
A Tormented Mind: Vincent van Gogh's Mental Illness Reflected in His Self-Portraits
On a beautiful summer day in July 1890 Vincent van Gogh, now
recognized as one of the world's most gifted painters, went down into the
open country of Auvers, France and shot himself in the heart with a revolver
(Martini 3). The man who is now known throughout the world for his
revolutionary artistic talent died in his brother Theo's arms, little known or
appreciated in his own time (Barnes 17). Van Gogh's suicide marked the
end of a life-long struggle with mental illness and depression which affected
every aspect of his personal and social life. His unpredictable, sometimes
even violent mental and emotional states led to a life of loneliness and
isolation, preventing van Gogh from achieving much recognition or success
in his own lifetime.
Much of van Gogh's inner pain is reflected in his
paintings -- especially in his own self-portraits. In fact, the fluctuations in
van Gogh's mental state and mood due to his mental illness directly
influenced his choice of color schemes and facial expressions in his self-
portraits. His Self-Portrait painted in 1887 reflects van Gogh's mental
excitement and optimistic energy during this very productive period of his
life. In contrast, Van Gogh's 1889 Self-Portrait was painted during his
darkest period of illness and misery and these qualities are expressed
through van Gogh's technique. His Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889-
90) is a testament to the physical effects of van Gogh's illness as well as how
close he was to finally giving up and ending his life by his own hand, while
his Self-Portrait in Front of the Easel...
Very moving
You managed to balance this essay with biographical facts and emotive statements really well. There is lots of repetition of fact that needs to be addressed, but otherwise this is a fantastic essay and art theory resource.
14 out of 14 people found this comment useful.