“Drawing is the root of everything"--van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh’s career as an artist only lasted ten years, but in that time he created at least 1,100 drawings. He used his drawings to record his thoughts and impressions of everything he saw around him, from peasants and postmen to landscapes and interiors.
He used his drawings in many different ways. At first, he thought he should master black-and-white before working in color. Sometimes he couldn’t afford to buy paint and canvas; other times he drew just to explore subjects that interested him. Although he usually painted freehand, without prior drawing, there were times when he adapted a drawing to a painted subject, and other times when he just enjoyed working out a theme in different variations.
The exhibition, “Vincent van Gogh: the Drawings”, currently on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Works on paper are very delicate, and can only be exhibited for short periods of time. But even if you can’t visit the exhibition, visit the website. The educational presentation for children, “Van Gogh Makes his Mark”, is packed with fascinating interactive information for art lovers of all ages.
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