Who can help me appreciate Van Gogh's self-portrait in a straw hat?

Aesthetic Analysis of Van Gogh's Self-portrait

The study of art history in the 20th century was conducted in a cultural context with ever-changing methods. A work of art lasts for a long time, which not only needs its own artistic value, but also can be endowed with rich meaning differences through different interpretation methods. These differences are not mutually negative and exclusive, but complement and draw lessons from each other, forming a whole that summons thoughts. Of course, the nature of artistic diversity also determines this point.

Contemporary art historians have made multi-level and multi-dimensional research on art from different angles and fields, among which the famous analysis methods of art history are: formalistic aesthetic analysis, iconology method, structuralism and deconstruction (post-structuralism) analysis, neo-Marxism analysis and psychoanalysis method. These new methods are emerging one after another, changing with each passing day, and there is a tendency of "squandering flowers and getting attractive". However, methodology itself does not have ontological significance. People hope to reach the hidden artistic noumenon through new methods, reveal the deep connotation of artistic noumenon, and thus show people's natural situation and significance of existence.

It is true that to understand the artistic noumenon of a work of art, both the creator and the viewer need to have some original knowledge, which depends on their knowledge and aesthetic cultivation, and it can reflect a person's social, political, economic and even sexual concepts. In addition, the time and space for the audience to watch a work of art is also an important reference to interpret a work of art. This paper attempts to investigate Vincent, a Dutch painter, with the help of some art history analysis methods. Where is it? Vincent Van Gogh's (1853- 1890) self-portrait art noumenon's significance and infinite possibility of interpretation.

Where is it? Gao,/kloc-a representative of impressionist painters in the late 9th century, from 1886 to 1890, he has more than 40 self-portrait works in his artistic maturity, which is undoubtedly outstanding in the history of self-portrait art. At the same time, why? Height has a great influence on modern art and is widely concerned by modern society. Therefore, it is valuable to choose this theme as a reference.

Formalism analysis method

Formalist analysts believe that image comes from the observation of lines, shapes and colors, and further, it comes from the aesthetic effect of lines, shapes and colors.

Photo 1: Self-portrait in straw hat, woodcut oil painting, 40.5×32.5cm, 1887 Summer in Amsterdam and Paris? Advanced museum collection. Self-portrait with straw hat and oil on cardboard 40.5×32.5cm Summer in Paris 1887, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

As the picture shows, is it Zhangfan? Gao 1887 "Self-portrait in a straw hat", use this concept to analyze Fan? When we draw this self-portrait, we can notice that the whole picture is bright yellow with a large area of solid color. Yellow is the basic color regardless of figure and background. The painter outlined the portrait with clear red lines, and the background was illustrated with rough and irregular blue short lines next to the portrait. It not only has a certain sense of visual reality, but also has a strong plane effect. Where is it? Gao said: "I always paint in a fixed position, pay attention to the most essential things in the painting, and then fill every blank in the outline definition with color." Whether it expresses anything or not, it is a sensible color and a simplified color. "1 this passage reflects the van? Gao's personalized understanding of lines and colors also conveys the unique characteristics of his visual language. The vivid depiction on canvas depends on Van Gogh. Highly integrated personality, warm and strong colors and firm lines, the painter's powerful eyes express his strong self-confidence in the creative process. In addition, his strong interest in the expression of natural light shows the painter's exploration of the true expression of outdoor sunshine in that era.

Sure, where is it? The aesthetic effect of the color and lines of the high self-portrait itself is enough to have a meaningful appeal. But a successful work of art should leave a deep impression on people in both form and meaning. Therefore, iconography analysis method is very important.

Image analysis method

Iconology involves the meaning of content and theme. Panofsky, a representative figure who studies iconology, believes that content is of decisive significance to the meaning of artistic works. The reason why a work of art can move people-like Fan? Like Gao's self-portrait, we mainly look at the impressive form and content of the work. Comparatively speaking, people usually use this method to interpret figurative works. For example, in the conception stage of portrait creation, artists often accept a fixed part or look for a model first, and then design the composition and color to create an artistic image based on the model's own personality. The works created in this way must reflect the artist's personalized artistic language, the model's unique identity and personality or both. On this basis, later appreciators and art historians wrote a piece of interpretation text and narrative about the creation of this work. Undoubtedly, the works at this time have a broader meaning, and people can discuss them in the whole cultural history, that is to say, "Where?" "High self-portrait" has the dual significance of aesthetic history and cultural history. We can look for information about "self-portrait" in art history and do this research. Of course, this is a complicated work, which cannot be solved in a short time, and needs more in-depth and professional research. This is just where? Talking about the content meaning behind the form with the high self-portrait as the center.

/kloc-In the late 20th century, innovative artists who were active in Paris were in contradiction with the real society and were spiritual loners. After getting rid of the dependence on literature, history, themes and techniques, Impressionism also abandoned the traditional painting thought and explored the independent value of painting itself. "Painting is painting, not history, not literature, not anything else." Such subjective thoughts have illuminated these innovators and become the spiritual source of modernist painting. At this time, the social oscillation transformation, the influence of foreign art (here mainly refers to Japanese ukiyo-e prints), the progress of science and technology, especially the progress of optical science, and the conflict of social values are increasingly exposed. This series of problems has aroused the attention and thinking of artists.

The theme and creative process of artistic works need to find ways to solve their own problems. Therefore, portrait painting, an ancient theme, has once again opened a new meaning in the eyes of innovators after its decline in the hands of Impressionists, and also contributed to the formation of these artists' personalities. Where is the memory of Rembrandt's great portrait and the worship of Delacroix? High spontaneity is awakened in the portrait theme. He knew it was a return, because the art at that time deviated from the study of human faces.

Where is it? Gao's self-portraits and portraits of Dutch farmers in this period reflect that he is looking for an art that evolved from Impressionism but surpassed Impressionism after leaving Paris. Because impressionism at that time could not reflect the ambitious, rebellious and disillusioned soul. He said: "I wouldn't be surprised if the Impressionists immediately criticized my painting method, because it was not so much that they nourished my creative method as that of Delacroix 2. "I don't try to accurately reproduce everything in front of me. I freely use colors to express myself forcefully.

In addition, for Fan? It is the most important and meaningful to discuss the content behind the color of high-series self-portraits. Due to the limitation of space, I will write another article to discuss this problem.

Structuralism and deconstruction analysis methods

Saussure 4 introduced symbols into linguistic research, which triggered a revolution in linguistic research. In his view, symbol is the most basic element, which consists of an object and its name or pronunciation. The object is the signified (called) and the name is the signifier (used to call). The signified+signifier = symbol. In short, the addressed object is the object of expression, the inherent substance of art, and the name used to address is the result of expression and the spiritual concept. In the view of structuralists, the connection between the object of expression and the result of expression is completely arbitrary. Where does this method apply? In the high Self-Portrait, the English word "self-portrait" is a symbol. The symbol itself doesn't mean much, but we form everything in our minds. A high self-portrait image will be accompanied by a lot of other information. Like where? High poverty, paranoia and persistent loneliness; Although I have never sold a work in my life, I am religious in pursuing art.

In addition, some semiotics explain artistic symbols from the perspective of developing genres and styles. In this regard, where? Gao's self-portrait reflects that he was influenced by Seurat and Sinek, the leading figures of New Impressionism (pointillism) at that time, and juxtaposed rough color points on the canvas. Several of his self-portraits were obviously created under the influence of this technique. Where is it? "Gao said ... their stippling method is a new discovery. In a word, I like them very much. At the same time, the application of this color and composition method also reflects the innovation of the traditional art of the Impressionist School at the end of 19, that is, from the pursuit of illusion visual effect to the artistic planarization since the Renaissance. Sure, Van? When Gao created this work, he didn't give too much meaning to this self-portrait, but later interpreters attached it to the work from the perspective of big cultural and artistic history.

Deconstructionists hold profound skepticism. They question everything, deconstruct everything and form a relatively open system. Derrida, a French philosopher, created two key words: "deconstruction" and "divergence", which opened up other possibilities for the interpretation of works of art. This way of interpretation is a bit like a computer virus, which destroys the normal rules of interpretation, but creates new meanings by seeking uncertainty. Who is the character in this self-portrait in the eyes of deconstructionists? Is he tall? Is he a painter or a farmer? What is the essence of selfie? Higher self? What are these questions? Gao didn't answer, but painted his self-portrait.

New Marxist analysis method

Marx and Engels absorbed German classical philosophy and political economy of Britain and France, and developed systematic dialectical materialism and historical materialism world outlook and methodology. However, if we look at Marxism historically and objectively, their academic research has not made a systematic explanation of culture and art, nor has it formed a systematic cultural aesthetic thought. We can only find a few words about related art in his works. However, Marxist theories about "the economic base determines the superstructure", "art is a form of production", "class analysis and class struggle" and "art is realism" greatly inspired many later scholars, who experienced the historical rise and fall of Frankfurt School and deduced a systematic neo-Marxist view of art, which became one of the most powerful artistic ideas and analysis methods in contemporary western countries. How to treat everyone with new Marxist thought? Where do you mainly look at the high self-portrait research? How much economic factors influence his works and creations. A passage here is Fan? Gao 1888 September 17 excerpt from Al's letter to his brother Theo.

"... in order to work when there are no models, I bought a mirror with quite good quality. It is certainly not easy to draw the color of my face, because if I can draw this well, then I can draw the faces of other men and women. "Economic poverty is accompanied by everyone? In my senior year, I couldn't sell a single piece of work, and I often couldn't afford canvas and paint because of lack of money, let alone hire a model. Therefore, taking selfies in front of the mirror has become the most effective and cheapest way for him to hone his skills, improve himself and seek spiritual transcendence.

Right on the canvas? In terms of high-class clothes, the simplest coarse clothes and the most common straw hats undoubtedly belong to the poor underclass, and they cannot compete with the exquisite clothes that court painters attach great importance to in Rubens' self-portrait. Shapiro said: "Vincent's portrait, like Lautreck's, is not entrusted by people, but the artist's free choice." Unlike the past portraits, which were painted for models, the people in the paintings were mighty and handsome, so as to praise the social status and power of the people being painted. On the contrary, van? The characters in Gao's novels are very different from the former because they have open social characteristics. Most people in the painting are the most ordinary people. "6 where? The huge economic difference between the theme of Gao's "Self-portrait in front of the mirror" and the artists also truly reflects the functional transformation of art from recording history to expressing true self at the end of 19.

On the whole, Fan? Gao's self-portrait art belongs to realism (from the color level, although some have expressionism). ), looking at his mature self-portrait works, it really proves this point. In his letter to Theo, he wrote ... because I never draw from memory. "7," ... I can't draw without a model. "8," my attention has been firmly fixed on the real existence, so that it is impossible to have the desire and courage to pursue the ideal generated by abstract practice. ..... I exaggerate and sometimes change my tone; Nevertheless, I didn't make a false fabrication of the whole painting.

Psychoanalytic method

Psychoanalysis is the most important and valued method for art historians in the 20th century. Freud and his followers not only expanded it from a psychopathological method to a general psychological theory, but also developed it from a medical thought to a world outlook and philosophical method. Therefore, psychoanalysis covers psychology, religion, ethics, anthropology and other fields, especially in the field of literature and art. They believe that psychoanalysis has a profound impact on the fundamental viewpoints and methodology of literature and art that is incomparable to all other methods so far. 19 10 years, Freud wrote an article and proposed to interpret it. Finch's Mona Lisa needs files based on the artist's childhood memories. Since then, psychoanalysis has been introduced into the interpretation of works of art.

Where is it? Gao's self-portrait itself does not have much story and narrative content. Psychologists must seek answers from his biography if they want to explore its deep connotation.

We know Van? Gao's birth is a comfort to his parents. His name is Vincent, and so is his brother who died in childbirth a year ago. My younger brother Theo was born four years later. At this time, who? I began to feel depressed when I was in high school. It may be due to long-term depression and trauma, or family inheritance, or other reasons. "The real reason for his illness is still uncertain; Recent medical research tends to think that it is "epilepsy" rather than "schizophrenia" as once thought. Between the two attacks, he can still draw. Some of his greatest works were created during his illness and recovery. " 10 inverse norm? High school is self-enclosed and depressed since childhood. When he was a teenager, his family was in financial difficulties. In order to lead a normal life in the future, Van Gogh had to leave home to find a suitable job. He used to be an art dealer and a priest, but he was fired. I picked up the drawing board at the age of 28, because I was old and was not optimistic. Even the prostitute who has been modeling for him for a long time has rejected his desire to start a family together. 1888, where? Gao took the initiative to invite Gauguin to come to Aier to sketch, but he was opinionated. Gauguin fought with Gauguin because of his different understanding of art, and this precious and "rare" friendship was torn apart in Gauguin's angry departure. Gao also cut off his earlobe to show his guilt. But the torn friendship can't be bridged. Where is it? Gao is lonely, which may be the biggest reason for his art in this period.

The diversified interpretation of Van Gogh's self-portrait is a typical step to approach the artistic image with psychoanalysis, because we don't have time to analyze the "unconscious" now, and its expression is like an element of dreaming, which can externalize the time series. Therefore, psychoanalysis focuses on theme materials and historical narrative. It believes that these are interactive, and in essence, they are always in a dynamic relationship.

summary

People always regard art as revealing the meaning of their own existence. When this meaning is obscured, people begin to re-examine the meaning of artistic ontology and artistic existence, and to achieve the deep meaning of artistic ontology, we must use brand-new methods. This paper attempts to use several more important methods to analyze all? The significance of realizing the artistic noumenon by the theme of high selfie and the various possibilities of interpreting works.

Of course, the limited space can't exhaust all the methods, and a large number of powerful methods for analyzing works of art have not been involved, such as biographical and autobiographical literature research, symbolism analysis, new criticism research, phenomenological analysis, hermeneutic analysis, reception aesthetic analysis and so on. These are all to be discussed further in the future.