Van Gogh Self-Portrait

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Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in Zundert, Netherlands. He had uncontrollable temper and was highly emotional. During age of 7 through 11, he was taught at home by governess. During age of 11 thorough 15, he went a boarding. He studied art in Brussels, Belgium for 6 months in 1880 and 1881. In the summer of 1881, van Gogh fell in love with his widowed cousin, but was rejected. In 1884, he fell in another love with a neighbor’s daughter, but the marriage was opposed by both families. That and the death of his father in Match of 1885 caused him a depression. At that time, he made his first artwork, “The Potato Easters”. He moved to Antwerp. While he was away, his mother and sister moved. They left all of van Gogh’s paintings. Some were bought by junk dealer and some were burned. From 1886, to 1888, van Gogh lived in Paris. During those years, he created about 200 oil paintings. In February of 1888, he moved to Arles. His friend Paul Gauguin joined in October. Van Gogh’s mental state was alternating because of the depression he had. In December of 1888, he attacked Paul Gauguin with an open razor, but was stopped by Gauguin. Later that day, van Gogh cut his left ear lobe, then he wrapped it and gave it to a prostitute named Rachel telling her to “keep this object carefully.” After that, he was sent to a mental hospital. While he was there, he made some of his best works. He was released in May 1890. In a state of depression, he went out into the wheat field and shot himself in the chest on July 27, 1890. Two days later, on July 29, 1890, van Gogh died. In “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe,” I see Vincent van Gogh smoking a pipe. The pipe is brown and the some that is coming out of it is yellowish color. It doesn’t look like van Gogh is actually smoking the pipe. It looks like he just has it in his mouth without doing anything with
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