Research point: Vincent van Gogh pen and ink drawing

Vincent Van Gogh: Harvest in Provence, 1888

Vincent van Gogh: Provencal Orchard, 1888

• vivid, full of pattern patches, as if it’s a collage made of differently patterned fabric patches in the 2 drawings from 1888
• the style has changed and developed between 1884 and 1888 from a pretty “standard” drawing style to quite distinct
• The latter ink drawings seem to imagine the typical brushstrokes in the paintings
• perspective by generous patterns in foreground, smaller patterns in background
• interest points added for good measure (cart, houses, horse)
• nice flow of free strokes (in foreground – see Harvest drawing), then a variety of areas of strong patterns – dots, lines, repeated quotation marks, organised hatched areas.
• there is a lot of order, despite the variety of marks
• he seems to add a pattern from his imagination to the area that he perceives as distinct – such as the dotted sky or the quotation mark field in “Harvest” drawing
• provencal orchard picture >> note that trees are outlined and then filled with wash/hatching

Vincent van Gogh: Pine Trees in the Fen, 1884, pen and ink