Vincent Van Gogh: His Art and Life
Matthew Palczynski, Ph.D., is an art history lecturer, consultant, and educator, focusing on vanguard art after around 1850. He presents talks online and globally for academic, corporate, and nonprofit organizations. His presentations have included those for Renaissance Weekend, Stanford University, Princeton University’s James Madison Program, The Wharton School, National Gallery of Art, and United Airlines. He is an Adjunct Senior Instructor at The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and has taught at the Tyler School of Art (Temple University) since 2004.
Overview
Why is Vincent van Gogh’s work so beloved? His iconic images of flowers and trees tell us that he was an astute observer of nature, from up close. Similarly, his portraits and architectural subjects show an individual who thought deeply about his connection to those around him and his place in the grand scheme of the larger world. In this lecture, art historian Matthew Palczynski will explore how Van Gogh’s thoughtful work and letters reveal why he is one of the most psychologically minded artists in the pantheon.
Recommended Reading:
The Letters of Vincent van Gogh – Ronald de Leeuw, ed.
Van Gogh: The Life, by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith
Vincent Van Gogh: The Drawings (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series), by Colta Ives et al
Discussion Questions:
- How are Van Gogh’s paintings related to his life and to his letters?
- In which ways was he an innovator?
- What do Van Gogh’s close observations reveal about his character?