Drawing as Art, Essay Example

Sometimes drawings are mixed up with paintings and forgotten a valuable piece of art. Vincent van Gogh not only used to accomplish one of the greatest paintings of impressionism era, but also practiced drawing images to enhance his skills and fulfill his leisure time. Moreover, the drawings were used as an outlet for depression and negative emotions. His drawings were predominantly done in pencil, black, red, and blue chalk, as well as charcoal and reed pen. In 1888 Vincent van Gogh created two drawings of chairs: Vincent’s Chair with His Pipe [1] and Gauguin’s Armchair. [2] Theses to similar drawings have dragged attention because of the symbolic interpretations used in them, thus emphasizing the subject matter.

One can notice that the color scheme of the chairs is completely different, like black and white, when Vincent’s Chair is pictured in light colors and Gauguin’s Armchair in dark, somber colors. In Vincent’s Chair the artist used the color composition based on variations of red and green, and blue and orange, thus making them appear to establish keynotes for the composition. As you can see, the area of purest red color on the paving under the chair is balanced by touches of green above it and by the following excess of green on the closest chair leg. This color game increases the impact of the image, thus creating a specific tension of line and color. On the other hand, in Gauguin’s Armchair we can see the dominant green color being balanced by brown and red colors. So, in both drawings the artist emphasizes green and red colors. Moreover, one can notice that these two chairs are relatively similar in their positioning on the paper, for one seems to be the reflection of another, though completely different one. This way, van Gogh wanted to outline the conflicting situation between him and his friend Gauguin.

Other important elements of Vincent’s Chair, like a pipe, handkerchief, and tobacco establish a focus of the picture in pictorial and narrative terms, thus demonstrating a piece of neutral white at the center contrasting the interplay of warm and cool hues. The author applies the blue color to underline the parts of the chair, thus increasing the feeling of cool draftsmanship which limits the overall sensuous treatment of the drawing. In Gauguin’s Armchair this technique also appears to be implemented, for we can see the white color of two books and a candle enlighten the overall somber colored walls, chair, and carpet. However, in the Gauguin’s Armchair the idea of using a white color in the center is more remarkable because of the overall gloomy image of the drawing.

If you look at the floor tiles, you would notice that they are painted with the waving brushstrokes, which is typical for Van Gogh’s background themes at this time. You can also notice that short vertical and horizontal line alter in a loose mesh of browns, greens, and reds. We can distinguish the thickness of the paint used by the heavy smear from the side of the brush left out alongside each and every line. In Gauguin’s Armchair the carpet pattern looks more sophisticated and confusing, for it is unordered and is not tight to any geometrical sequence or system. Van Gogh has used a variety of colors in this pattern putting dark colors like red, green, and brown upfront and white color at the back of the drawing, right behind the book, thus inspiring the drawing with some light apparently falling from both candlesticks. We can see the floor line at the back of the room which clearly divides the room into two parts: green and colored or dark and light.

Vincent van Gogh also tried to inspire his drawings with symbolic interpretations. Van Gogh pictures his chair as pretty simple and unpretentious, but Gauguin’s armchair is definitely more ornate. We can assume he wanted to represent his perception of himself as opposing to Gauguin’s, for Van Gogh preferred the company of poor working people, and Gauguin tried to get acquainted with rich aristocratic individuals. So, Gauguin’s chair is definitely more extravagant and lavish comparing to Vincent’s chare, which is pretty simple and straight forwarded. This can be noticed even in the use of color, when Gauguin’s drawing is more saturated.

The drawings of Vincent’s Chair and Gauguin’s chair are essentially different, thus showing us how Vincent van Gogh wanted to emphasize the difference between him and his friend. So, drawings are different from paintings, though essentially similar. To make a drawing a draftsman needs a pencil, black, red, and blue chalk, as well as charcoal and reed pen. On the other hand, in order to make a painting one needs to use liquid paint and paint brush. However, sometimes the paint is also used in drawings. Thus, even though drawings are not paintings, they still must be recognized as pieces of art, for they are unique. You can see drawings of famous artists like Van Gogh or Raphael presented on exhibitions and exposed in the museums. Despite their overall simplicity drawings are wonderful, thus demonstrating how the proper amounts of the correct elements can create a good piece of artwork.

References

“Gauguin’s Chair.” Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. 13 Mar. 2009. <http://www3.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/index.jsp?page=3733&lang=en>.

Lubin, Albert. Stranger on the Earth: A Psychological Biography of Vincent Van Gogh. Da Capo Press, 1996.

“Vincents’ Chair with His Pipe.” Vincent van Gogh Gallery. 13 Mar 2009. <http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/717/Vincent_s-Chair-with-His-Pipe.html>.

[1] “Gauguin’s Chair.” Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. 13 Mar. 2009.

[2] “Vincents’ Chair with His Pipe.” Vincent van Gogh Gallery. 13 Mar 2009.