by Jon Parker

Created on: December 15, 2006   Last Updated: March 05, 2012

Van Gogh Drawbridge near Arles, 1888: The content of this painting is a drawbridge from a perspective lower than the bridge and perpendicular to its direction. There are stone walls either side of the bridge and grass/crops on the far bank, reflected in the water. There is also grass in the foreground, in front of the left stone wall. The subject of the painting is a horse and cart halfway across the drawbridge.

The context of this work is that Van Gogh had travelled to the south of France. It was here that he was inspired to create his most famous paintings. Drawbridge near Arles' is one of many of his paintings that shows the world through Van Gogh's eyes. He is very to the point when it comes to titles for his works of art.

I used acrylic paints and the process of mark-making with the end of my paintbrush. I used this for when I needed thin marks, such as detail in the reflection of the water. I also used this technique for texture in the grass in the bottom left of the painting. I enjoyed doing this piece of work because I like using bright, vibrant colours and bold brush marks. I spent under five hours from start to finish on the process of painting this, whereas Van Gogh would have spent many months and possibly years trying to get the final product just right.

The mood of this painting inspires calm and tranquillity. It is also of a sunny day, which makes everything, especially natural forms, look at its best. Van Gogh uses bright colour and the composition of a wide space in the centre of the image allowing the background to be fully viewed. This technique makes you feel like you are in the paintings. The artist has placed the focal point (the horse and cart) away from the middle of the image in this case, at the top of the picture. The clear blue sky represents a summer's day, which oozes peace and contentment.

Vincent Van Gogh took up painting at the age of 27. He was largely a self-taught but absorbed the inspiring lessons of Impressionism during two years in Paris. He moved to the south of France, where he created his most famous works. He painted landscapes, still lives and portraits. They are all signed Vincent', which was his trademark.

During his life, Van Gogh suffered poverty, hunger, alcoholism and insanity. His attempt to found an artist's colony with fellow painter Paul Gauguin ended in self-mutilation when he cut off part of his left ear. Despite his younger brother Theo supporting him to the end, Vincent shot himself in the chest, aged 37.

Van Gogh inspires me because there is a story behind each painting. The true meanings of his works are not necessarily at face value. He has been described as a Dutchman with a Mission', which shows what a phenomenal individual he actually was.

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