‘Tree with Ivy in the Asylum’
Ink on paper, 1889
In this image, Van Gogh employs techniques such as stippling and cross-hatching freely and expressively. Studying this image helps to provide a historical context for the work I have been doing in relation to making marks, and allows me to understand that the techniques I am learning are part of a rich tradition of using such marks to create tone and texture in a drawing.
Characteristic of Van Gogh, the marks are bold and arresting, capturing the form of the subject while still maintaing a sense of speed, movement and energy. The combination of clear outlines with straight and waved marks reflects the potential kinetic energy of the scene, with the trees either literally stirred by the wind or reflecting the emotional investment of the artist in the subject matter: the trees may be stationary, but the passion of the artist channels movement into the picture. The title is particularly suggestive of the latter: such an outdoor, natural scene reflects freedom and open space, versus the confines, physical and psychological, of an asylum.
Cross-hatching, dashes, lines and swirls add texture to the piece, along with variations in line strength to give a sense of perspective. This clearly differentiates and defines foreground, middle ground and background. Spontaneous and fluid, Van Gogh’s marks illustrate that pen and ink drawing can be a highly expressive method of making marks, an art form in iself as well as preparatory work for later pieces.
Jessica Sketches 