VINCENT VAN GOGH IN THE LIGHT OF THEORIES OF ART PSYCHOLOGY
SANAT PSİKOLOJİSİ KURAMLARI IŞIĞINDA VİNCENT VAN GOGH

Author : Ceren YILDIRIM
Number of pages : 374-395

Abstract

Theorists, applying psychoanalytic analysis, depict Vincent Van Gogh’s (1853-1890) entire life and art to be founded on a guilt fantasia based on his stillborn brother. This approach is limited with assigning a meaning of Van Gogh’s art to a psychological condition such as psychosis. However, methods that will be applied to analyse artwork should reveal their meaning, rather than the psyche of the artist. Numerous speculative comments about his disease has created information pollution and strengthened the myth of “mad-genius”. Van Gogh’s work can only be considered as dark, pessimistic and chaotic with psychological analysis techniques. Like other artists, his works should be contemplated taking his life story and writings under consideration. The symbolic language he used is like a treasure chest waiting to be deciphered. Reading his work considering archetypes will reveal a completely new picture as Vincent’s inner world which has strong connections with elements of faith.

Keywords

Vincent van Gogh, Art Psychology, Symbol, Psychoanalysis, Archetype.

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