When we think of ‘Vincent van Gogh’, we think of vibrant, vivid colours. But that hasn’t always been the case.
Anton Mauve, Homeward Bound, 1881
Grey School
Mauve masterfully captured the atmosphere of this landscape in shades of grey. He usually painted in harmonious grey tones, like many artists of The Hague School – also known as the ‘Grey School’.
Vincent van Gogh, Still Life with Cabbage and Clogs, 1881
A Sense of Colour
create still lifes in oil paint. This gave him the opportunity to develop a sense of colour. He was very pleased with this, as up until then, he had focused almost entirely on drawing – a typical starting point for aspiring artists. This painting marked his first attempt, serving primarily as an exercise in colour, texture, and brushwork.
Vincent van Gogh, Bobbin Winder, 1885
Tone on Tone
Tonal painting focused on the subtle interplay of light and dark shades within a single colour. In this simple still life – of a device for winding yarn – Van Gogh explored variations of a deep blue-green hue. By applying lighter tones of the same colour, he emphasised the areas touched by light.
