I Don’t Like Vincent van Gogh’s Paintings

[@artprof]

Watch our video on Rembrandt's drawings: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6TVYXejhMZnhLs

[@katarynek]

Great video, thanks! You can see Van Gogh's love of line in both his drawings and paintings. I think he accentuated it differently in each medium, but it's an underlying fascination in all his works. It's crazy how well he can describe planes and value using line in his drawings. And in painting he uses it to play colours off each other. Huge inspiration.

[@dpelpal]

I am Dutch; our clothes are crunchy. Deal.🧸

[@bluewren65]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@spencer_mynatt]

I feel the same towards Leonardo Da Vinci. Great painter, but his sketches of his inventions, people, water, anatomy and architecture captivate me more.

[@coffeewithroomforcream]

I have always loved Van Gogh's paintings, but this is helping me appreciate his drawings much more too! My mean old witch of an elementary school art teacher had a copy of The Starry Night on the wall, and I used to get lost in it while she was busy being mean and wretched to us. 😅

[@recoveringsoul755]

Apparently the swirls in the sky that he painted accurately depict laws of physics that had not yet been discovered. I wonder if he could see them somehow or feel them?

[@anawieder5003]

Ooh hot take. I can’t say I disagree more. I think his use of color is extraordinary. I love his drawings too but i think his paintings are my favorite

[@desandberg]

I first saw van Gogh’s work in 1970 when I was 12 years old and I as captivated. So I was prepared to be riled when I read the title. But you make good and valid points and I recognize that the drawings have been attracting more of my attention as I get older. Now I see why. Still love the paintings but the drawings are great too.

[@butterpoweredbike6135]

Upon your recommendation, I've been pulling random books out of the art stacks when I visit the library. I look at them when I'm having my coffee, which is a very nice way to start the day.

[@terrywbreedlove]

His painting techniques look like they came directly over from the drawings to me. Just the color and medium being the difference.

[@Sykirobme]

I especially love his reed pen drawings. The sheer variety of marks VvG was able to get with such a simple and crude tool never ceases to amaze. In recent years I've fallen out of love with a lot of his paintings...there are a handful that absolute genius but I feel quite a few suffer from being rushed. I understand that rush of creative energy - I'm currently whipping out 2-3 paintings/week to prepare for my next grad residency - but over the years I've found that slowing down helps so much with composition and form.

[@robertterrell3065]

What an excellent and thought provoking critique. I went through art school... okay, it was the 1970s. Yeah, quite some time ago. I didn't get anything like this in depth analysis of Van Gogh comparing his drawings to his paintings. I must say, you make very strong points that are not easy to refute, that's for sure. I can't. His drawing technique is fantastic. I do appreciate a lot of his paintings. But I always thought he was inconsistent. I've always given him a pass, because he made some paintings I really love. And because I also get rather inconsistent as a painter. And I've been painting as seriously as I'm able now for a few years! haha

[@DennisGranahan-e9h]

I see your point, I copied VG's drawings at 15 years old to learn to draw but 50 years later I have no desire to emulate his painting. But I would hang the sunflowers on my wall! Thanks for your forthrightness and the interesting video.

[@ArtScapeDiaries]

@artprof I do agree with you that his drawings are more structured and have the variance of lines that really give movement, dimension and texture. I do absolutely love his paintings and have a few copies in my home. I love the colors and the imagery. I do believe that the reason why people love Van Gogh is because he was a break away from the classical movement that perhaps felt a bit stiff for some. I loved the example of the side by side of the painting v. the drawing of the postman, it was a great visual on the difference between line variation and how it plays to the technical aspects of constructing a portrait.

[@jordang7479]

I didn't know what to expect but I love learning about ways to look at things! There's a depth to his drawing that isn't always there in his painting.

[@nerdnam]

He had such a short career that maybe he was really still a beginner. I think he wanted his paintings to be like his drawings, which were not at all like paintings. Also I think drawings come off very well in books but paintings often don't.

[@katalinelo8011]

I always thought that drawing and painting are two different sets of skills. Like walking and riding a bike. I enjoy exhibitions of drawings sometimes a great deal more, because you can truly get to know the artist through them. How they're thinking, constructing and planning. Fascinating.

[@JeffreyBaughman-fk8ld]

The first time I saw Starry Night in real life I was moved to tears.

[@christophedevos3760]

I think it is the influence of Gauguin that is showing in his paintings, and also the influence of Japanese art, very noticable in the painting of Père Tanguy that is in Musée Rodin, and I'm not sure when he made these drawings, but maybe before the paintings shown here? Interestingly Van Gogh was very keen on an American illustrator, which name I need to look up because I keep forgetting it, but maybe he was aiming at the same kind of realism in his drawings.

[@brianvanderspuy4514]

I tend to greatly prefer his early "dark" work to the stuff he became famous for. Probably also a controversial opinion. :-)

[@karlab9557]

When I look at VanGohs paintings they look to me like he was drawing with his paintbrush like a pen with a sameness to the strokes. His style. You made valid points, and I agree. His drawings appeal more to me, also.

[@ELY3358]

It is because of his strong drawing technique that his paintings look so unique. He was drawing with paint! Him and Klee “drew” with paint.

[@keithphillips4622]

I would recommend you trying to do a study of any one of his paintings and I guarantee you will come away, not only defeated but have a whole new appreciation for just how intricate and complex they are. Every brushstroke had feeling. Impossible to replicate , I can't say that for many of the "greats".

[@Cali_Flowers]

Prof Lieu rocking the boat! 😱🥰 I love how you talk seriously about Art to us! Serious art thoughts heal my soul! Tysm!

[@tarabooartarmy3654]

I agree with you! I prefer his drawings to his paintings by a huge margin. With someone like John Singer Sargent, I love both equally. With Van Gogh, I really only like his drawings.

[@chuckeatskc]

Several decades ago, possibly after art school, I saw Picasso's drawings for the first time. A light went on over my head. Amazing works. Drawing people simply, clicked for me (I developed bad figure drawing habits in school). Picasso's treatment of hands and fingers.

[@bluewren65]

What I only discovered fairly recently is that for even his most abstracted portraits he would start by doing a traditional, highly rendered drawn portrait, then progressively abstract the face. It explains why even though they are very abstracted his portraits still somehow convey both the anatomy of the face and the character of the model.

[@frehayes]

I don't think the comparison is a good way to evaluate his work, although you make good points. Also, most of your comparisons are about what the drawing does and what the painting does not do. It almost felt like you were evaluating the paintings using drawing criteria. Painting has it's own language.

[@fontainerouge]

You are very right about the drawings *but* the best paintings have this unique atmosphere of childhood wonder with the world that is just enchanting (to me 😉).

[@deniskomoda6423]

Although I really love many of Van Goghs paintings, I can completely agree on your criticism. Taking your point of view, the drawings are really a blessing! And although I do agree that his strokes are not as impressive as his drawing linework, I do want to make the point that the whole composition of his late paintings is what makes him the greatest painter (my opinion of course) of all times, regarding creativity and exploration of the media. I see Van Gogh as paradigmatic really for art! Anyway, I had already a big appreciation of his drawings, and now I have it even more! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. That pearl for thought on structure will follow me on my 2025 New Year's artistic resolutions!!!! Thanks!!

[@gardeniainbloom812]

Wow Prof Lieu what an excellent video. I see what you mean and would agree. I learned a lot, thank you.

[@berolinastrassmann]

Drawings or sketches ofyen reveal a different dimension of an artist. I appreciate what you are getting at. I enjoy lioking at artists sketches or even sketchbooks, as they reveal their thought process, their trial and errors and their eye for detail. In his paintings, and in many other impressionists, the paintings are less controlled than their drawings, much more loose and they look more spontaneous than the drawings. I find appreciating the artists's drawings offer a different insigt into their work.

[@bongbonglelina4895]

Structures in art is simply harmonizing elements ( lines , shapes, shades etc.) that are not perfectly done area by area BUt to see the whole composition is projecting a concrete cohesion where beauty on an art arises on its own

[@Catbooks]

Blasphemy! 😄 I guess I can understand why you feel this way, although I love his paintings and drawings. I dislike Seurat's paintings, which look so stiff and lifeless to me, but when I saw his drawings, WOW! Amazing.

[@felareed8251]

Yes I Love Van Gough's Drawings As Well AS His Paintings . But I Also Love Rembrandt's Drawings More Than His Paintings Which I do Admire Rembrandt's Use Of Lighting. Yes I Watched Your Video On Rembrandt's Drawings And Had Been An Admire Of His Drawings Since Art School.

[@chaconne0488]

Thank you very much for this short but excellent lecture on art. I have been in love with Rembrandt since I was a child. His light, mystery, mastery. Maybe that is why I could not be convinced to V. G.'s paintings. The drawings are extraordinary, but they have such a message that as a child I began to be afraid of life. I was able to feel what he drew so much and I am very reluctant to look at his works. I do not like V. G. :)) Best regards.

[@CristinaMuniz-f5j]

Thank you for this beautiful dive into the drawings. I've missed this kind of learning for a bit now!

[@anodyne57]

Valuable video for awakening people to such an underrated part of his work. Ultimately I think what you are getting at is that his amazing drawings were more faithful to the reality in front of him, and in that way ironically, more "photographic". The effect of color on a viewer hits in an entirely different way though, and is just as legitimate a way of expressing the things that were important to VVG...where objective reality recedes but the truth of interiority, and emotions bursts to the fore. Admittedly this happened in his case, at the cost of complexity of representational accuracy.

[@amandavanwyk5424]

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve never been a huge fan of his paintings, with the exception of a couple. His drawings, on the other hand….

[@robertterrell3065]

Yes, he's always seemed inconsistent, as I was just saying in a post. But he also hit some major home runs with some of his paintings imho.

[@Erik-br6cq]

I feel the same way about Tiepolo. Love his sketches, but the paintings do nothing for me.

[@artwithalexander5359]

it is a valid criticism. i love his colorful works (i am a lover of bold colors) but i agree his brush strokes are heavy and look hurried. his drawing by comparison look like he spent time on them and the level of detail shows.

[@BetinaLundkaerJensenartist]

I think he is very good at making interesting texture with his mark making - so great

[@Paul-uc8vn]

That was great, cheers 🤟

[@B.J.Daniels]

Both are good… haha he just used one brush😂

[@chrissygolightly]

I kind of agree. His art has never been technically beautiful to me, but the emotion he pulls from me when I view his art always struck me. Van Gogh will always be my greatest artspiration

[@cleols5433]

Love every bit of his art !! Thx so much !!

[@vsaturated]

Yeah I hate that a lot of people favor paintings over drawings

[@evanbyron2914]

great video, well stated. though i love almost all his paintings

[@user-ei2xx1zq8t]

Totally agree Prof!

[@AngieG11]

Structure! Just as important as value 😊

[@Artemis_1138]

I 100% disagree XD I absolutely love his paintings, how he uses color and how he creates movement using one brush.

[@brianstasiulis4285]

My dear Professor, by sharing how much you know contrasts with the amount you don't know. Most of which is not even heartfelt. Simplify the complicated and complicate the obvious as my red headed fool would say. You look too fast! van Gogh knew how to paint properly. The parts never stand up to scrutiny. Only when the casual observer choose to take the whole as it stands alone. The man painted without thinking only before and after did he amuse this luxury. Painting was breathing for him as it is for a select few. Sometimes at that brief moment when we are embraced by the angels we forget this simple task and we seem to go on forever. Only a select few got Vincent during his life, I fear this remains the same today.

[@neilagangitlog]

Watching this made me wanna draw huhuhuhu

[@quietzone1313]

Ooh ooh! Do Degas next! I would love to see an entire series of these analyses. And yeah, I strongly disagree with your Van Gogh take 😅. His paintings show me his mental illness in an intersting way.

[@bluewren65]

I think poor Vincent has suffered as much from over exposure and adoration after his death as he did from under exposure and dismissal during his lifetime. There is a strange notion that anyone who's work has stood the test of time and made it to the pantheon of universally accepted great artists is beyond criticism. When we engage in thoughtless hero worship we do ourselves, as artists, a disservice. If we look at the works of past masters without a critical eye we elevate them to the status of demigods, beings who whenever they touched pencil to paper or paint to canvas created only works of pure genius. This is not so. Every artist who ever made anything good at all went through a learning process where they stumbled and stagnated, where they made good works and bad. Even at their most accomplished they have strengths and weaknesses. If we refuse to see those strengths and weaknesses and how they came together to form the artist's work, then we cannot learn the valuable lessons these works contain. An artwork doesn't have to be perfect to be exceptional (perfection is an illusion, anyway), an artist doesn't have to be beyond criticism to be one of the greats.

[@AzureSymbiote]

I never understood the appeal of van Gogh's paintings.

[@mikebarkerstudio]

Interestingly enough, l believe Van Gogh didn't think his drawing skills were very good and worked diligently to try and improve them. I also believe that he painted rather quickly, often completing multiple works a day.

[@bluewren65]

Perhaps that's why his drawings are so much better.

[@ediesedgwick4462]

I think Van Gogh is highly overrated. The paint is gobbed on in thick blobs. Some of his paintings look like they were painted with pigmented stringy pizza cheese. I like it when the painting has a smooth finis and I can't see the brushstrokes.

[@cameronoday5424]

Feel the same. His paintings are meh.

[@dandykaufman2]

Excellent. I agree with your examples but people also love his landscapes and botanicals where color is crucial. You could do one on Rembrandt who probably (?) a better draftsman than a painter.

[@bluewren65]

Yeah, nah, that dude could paint. Whether he was better at drawing? It would be a 50:50.

[@blakeanncook7375]

Ha.

[@blakeanncook7375]

The internet and social mead is has lead to complete madness! Not joking.

[@amsumalivallaart2805]

You don’t like Van Gogh paintings????? Who cares ??? Who are you anyway???? You are not Van Gogh or anyone like him You are just a KZbin artist trying to get views Using fancy titles Of course you don’t like him because you are jealous of the way he brilliantly painted So you conveniently criticize his technique but you ain’t qualified There’s a tremendous difference between an art administrator/instructor of techniques of any university and Vincent VanGogh

[@bluewren65]

Clearly you are not a regular on this channel or you would realise that Prof Lieu has a ton of art credentials that make her qualified to make such a critique. You can agree, or disagree, that's the fun of such discussions, but when you reduce your counter critique to personal attacks rather than offering a cogent counter-critique, it is you who comes across as lacking in credibility.