Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear And Pipe (1889)

Question 1

Colour - 1

Answer 1

The bold colours in Van Goghs painting stand out against each other through the use of contrasting warm colours in the background and cool colours of his clothing. This makes the painting look more exciting.

Question 2

Colour - 2

Answer 2

Van Goh used pale, neutral colours when painting his skin. This makes it look more natural but also makes him look unwell as his skin is looking against the brighter colours surrounding.

Question 3

Line - 1

Answer 3

Van gogh uses a thick black line to outline his woolly jacket. I think this outline creates more of a 2D look and almost cartoon style.

Question 4

Line - 2

Answer 4

Van gogh used subtle curving lines above the pipe. The cured lines add some movement to the painting and suggest relaxed breathing from Van Gogh.

Question 5

Texture - 1

Answer 5

Van Gogh does not create any clear surface texture on the background of the painting, preferring to block in the flat colour. The lack of textural detail in the background helps keep the focus on the more detailed foreground of the painting.

Question 6

Texture - 2

Answer 6

The artist creates furry texture on the hat in the painting by using overlapping brushstrokes. The use of the soft and fluffy texture suggests a sense of comfort.

Question 7

Shape/Form - 1

Answer 7

Van Gogh uses block painted geometric shapes in the background of the painting. The use of sharp geometric shapes makes the painting look very simplified.

Question 8

Shape/Form - 2

Answer 8

In the foreground of the painting, the subject seems to be made from a range of softer, organic shapes. The softness of the shapes makes Van Gogh look more fragile and vulnerable.

Question 9

Pattern - 1

Answer 9

Van Gogh doesn’t use much pattern in the painting at all. He uses two repeated stripes in the background, which create a leading line and pull your focus towards his eyes as a focal point.

Question 10

Pattern - 2

Answer 10

Van Gogh uses an irregular pattern of repeated lines on his coat. This uneven pattern creates the impression of rough fabric.

Question 11

Composition- 1

Answer 11

Van Gogh uses leading lines in the painting which can be sen by the slip colour on the background. The vertical line where the colour splits leads your eyes directly into Van goghs face and to giving him ‘eye contact’, this creates an almost sympathic effect towards him.

Question 12

Composition- 2

Answer 12

Van Goghs composition is very traditional in that it is centred in the middle of the image and is just a head and shoulder portrait. This creates a balanced mundane effect which is contrasted by the colour and subject matter.

Question 13

Mood and atmosphere- 1

Answer 13

The mood of the painting is quite confused. Van Gogh uses angry oranges and red against calming blues and greens. The contrast in the mood related colour suggests Van Goghs muddled emotional mind.

Question 14

Mood and atmosphere - 2

Answer 14

The artist has created quite an aggressive mood and atmosphere through the use of such bold colours in the background. The red, in particular, really jumps out at the viewer and is quite violent.

Question 15

Media Handling - 1

Answer 15

In this painting, Vna gogh seems to handle the paint in the background, quite soothing, which contrasts much of his other highly textural work of the time. The smooth application of the block colours creates an almost cartoon like effect.

Question 16

Media Handling. - 2

Answer 16

Although, he creates smooth colour bases, his brushstrokes are much more rough and noticeable on the top layer of paint. This helps the artist create a more varied range of textures, which helps to add visual impact.

Question 17

Scale - 1

Answer 17

At 41 x 55cm, Van Goghs painting is not particularly large. The painting would be relatively realistic in scale if you were to stand in front of it which would make the painting seem more relatable - suggesting Van Gogh does not want to scare the viewer but instead to illict sympathy.

Question 18

Scale - 2

Answer 18

The scale of the piece is really wuiye small. Due to this, it would not normally have a huge impact - however, the small scale still pavks a punch due to the intense colour and atmosphere it portrays.

Question 19

Style - 1

Answer 19

The style of the painting is quite bold. The artist uses bright, bold colours and impasto techniques seen throughout the background and the jacket to create an energetic style.

Question 20

Style - 2

Answer 20

The style of the painting is quite expressive - you can see this through the visible brushstrokes on the face, jacket, and smoke. This style of working makes the painting look almost carefree and rushed.

Question 21

Subject matter/ imagery - 1

Answer 21

The subject matter of Van gogh shows him painted with a really sad facial expression. I think this, combined with the badage in the painting, makes the viewer feel symapthy towarss him.

Question 22

Subject Matter/ Imagery - 2

Answer 22

The fact that Van gogh uses subject matter through adding the hat, jacket, and pipe might try to make him look small and fragile. Through doing this, he is trying to illict compassion in what looks like a cry for help.

Question 23

Social, cultural, and other influences - 1

Answer 23

Alcohol and substance abuse was a common problem among common people in Van Goghs lifetime. In many of his still life paintings, Van gogh would paint bottles of alcohol and absinth, in which the colours seemed very subded - possibly reflecting the numbling of emotions he experienced through his alcohol abuse.

Question 24

Social, cultural, and other influences - 2

Answer 24

Van goghs piece ‘self portrait with bandaged ear and pipe’ was part of the emerging post impressionism movement. The post impressionism movement focussed on exaggerated brushstrokes and colours to evoke emotions, which is clearly shown in his use of exaggerted marks of colour in this piece.