Can you imagine Vincent playing in mud puddles wearing these shoes he had gotten from a flea market? At the Van Gough Museum online you can browse Vincent's paintings and read back stories as well. Be transported to The van Gough Museum online and see what getting muddy with van Gough was like.
This painting has left one of the longest impressions on me. It was about three years ago when I first was introduced to one of the lesser-known paintings of van Gough. It was critique day in Beginning Drawing. Anyone who has experienced placing your 18x24 still life drawing on the wall for examination, it's quite intimidating. One student's drawing of their combat boots reminded the professor of van Gough's painting of muddy boots. The critique paused as we explored the world of van Gough's painting. Just a pair of tattered muddy shoes making a bold statement with different shades of mud, creating lines forming a contrast with light and dark shades of gray around the black boots. You can almost see the mud dancing around the shape of the boots with lighter shades, giving contrast to the shadows cast by the light shining on the tops of the toes.
It was my classmate's drawing of his combat boots that reminded me of my father. Who always made sure his black boots were shiny. He had passed away right before midterms and grief was cold that winter. Also, how did a drawing of a pair of clean, shiny boots make the instructor think of muddy shoes? Van Gough's painting shows vast amounts of texture and shading with the repetitions of abstract lines and brushstrokes. These elements bring life to the painting by outlining the shape of the boots with several shades of gray around the tattered black shoes. Matching my emotion, my first impression was how dreary! I knew life was hard during this era, and felt this painting created space for conversation. His texture from the oil paints and simple brushstrokes make a symphony of lines. This simple painting brought some solace to my dreary soul. As well as a visual aid for beginning drawing students as well.
After exploring the elements of Vincent's vivid painting, I value finding the joy of making the best of a muddy kind of day. What inspired the creative genius to buy a pair of gently used shoes at a flea market and dance in the mud? Although not understood during his time, Vincent van Gough has been inspirational throughout the times as we learn to embrace the hardships of life and keep dancing through life. Much like this painting here of muddy shoes. Notice how the warmer tones of gray swirl around the laces in the front of the painting and the darker laces on the other shoe, showing depth.
Even though Vincent was tormented by what we can guess to be a mental illness and other hardships, he looked for joy through the lenses of his paintings. Using contrasting colors like dark hues of blue against a Starry Night. You can see the joys of dancing in mud puddles with the contrasting grays and the shadows cast by the floppy tops of the worn-out shoes. By combining fun textures using lines and shading to form shape, depth, and dimension. Van Gough shows us how to make the best out of life.
I'm unsure when I will ever get to the Netherlands to see Vincent's elements come to life from his works of art. However, I was able to make it to Anchorage in the fall of 2022 for Beyond Van Gough and experienced the immersive exhibit. Going to the Van Gough museum in real life would be a dream come true! Now we can visit anytime online with the click of a mouse or tap on a screen. If only he could see what inspiration has evolved from his bold melodic lines upon layers of texture, forming a harmonious masterpiece to enjoy throughout the ages of time. (check out this clip of Dr.Who showing van Gough his work)
3 comments:
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This is the first time I’ve see this painting , and I love it ! My husband is in the military and this one just hit close to home. Thank you for sharing this. I love how you can feel the emotions through the depth and textures he uses.
You've taken a fun scenic route on your review, I feel more like I'm reading a creative nonfiction excerpt than a blog post. I agree with you that Van Gough had a mastery of values, and he shows it here too in the blending greys, blacks, and browns of the boots. I personally find that his ability to create the depth and form we see with the crumpled tops of the boots to be more impressive. Unlike some of his other works, I feel like I could pick these up and stomp some of the mud off of them. I can imagine the feel of the worn leather. But to loop back and answer your first question, no, I don't think I could imagine Vincent playing in a mud puddle. At least not with that frown he always seems to have.
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