THE DRAWN HISTORY OF ART – Trees in their own space

An Analysis of the Works of Albert Edelfelt and Vincent van Gogh.
I created two drawings using watercolours and oil pastels during one of the courses I teach in Paris.

In both the analysis of Albert Edelfelt’s work and that of Vincent van Gogh, a style of representation emerges that is linked to the technique employed.

In the case of A. Edelfelt, the artist began with a graphite drawing, then moved on to watercolour – a transparent medium – before applying opaque touches. This is no easy technique, as one must take care not to apply too much colour to the lighter areas, so as not to obscure them.

In the case of Van Gogh, who used opaque oil paints, and in my own case, where I use opaque oil pastels we can see how the artist can add light colours by layering them over the tree-like mass created by darker colours.
The density of the paint is, in my view, the basis of the uniqueness and modernity of Vincent Van Gogh’s work.