"Whitefield with Crows" Analysis, Art Essay Example

"Whitefield with Crows" by Vincent Van Gogh is a painting dating from July 1890. The art is painted with oil on a canvas medium. The piece measures 50.2cm by 103cm and is classified as modern art. The work is undoubtedly one of the most significant works of Vincent Van Gogh and is also the most debated pieces. There are so many interpretations of this work than any other of his actions. A group of critics sees it as suicide note presented by paint while others have a different view. Some more concerned critics look even beyond brushstrokes and the canvas translating the image into a complicated dialect. Analysis of any piece of work is always subjective with the best interpretations based on reasonable facts. The painting causes a lot of stirring in people's mind in the message of loneliness and sadness conveyed in the wheat fields, and many suggest it as a show of being overwhelmed by life in his last days.

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The exact date when the "Wheat Field with Crows" was painted is difficult because the painter was working on other projects similar to it during the same season. A big insight on this matter can be unveiled however from the "Letter 649" that describes three works. The writing is dated July 10, 1890, done by Van Gogh himself. The message communicates about 'huge wheat fields beneath skies that are troubled.' He further writes of how he did not have to go out to show his show his loneliness and heightened sadness. He promises to deliver some pieces of his sorrow soon in Paris that will express his thoughts and feelings in details especially about restoration and health issues in the government. It is the last line that makes the clearest point on the subject, 'about the third painting, the "Daubigny's Garden" a vision he had been seeing since moving to the context of the white fields. The text brings sound arguments whether the painting is talked about in the letter or not. The letter which is also referred to as the suicide note showing the painter's inner tumult that he was going through and possible presentation in the masterpiece.

A look at the painting draws a lot of symbolism in the various elements used by the artist to express his idea. One of the bright things seen is the paths. It is easy to read the symbolism in the tracks seen in the painting with the future and past ways of the life of Gogh's life. The tracks can be seen as three arrays; in each front ground, corner appears two sets and toward the horizon from the third one winds. Logic is undoubtedly defined by the right and left foreground paths that originate and lead wildly. These paths could be the Van Gogh's own life on how it has taken different confusing paths. The middle way represents the truth and destiny. Another visible symbol is the sky. Just like most of Van Gogh's art, this one is not an exception where he draws the sky in his representation. It seems like Van Gogh's is so fond of nature and accords a great deal of respect to it. To him, stormy skies are a great sign in representing his ideas on an empty canvas, and this is evident from various pieces of his work. In fact, the painter has written on how storms seem liberating to him, when he says in his 197 letter, "the plane's navigator in times succeeds in utilizing a storm to make a lead, instead of being destroyed by it." Van Gogh's life must have changed towards his last moments resulting in an unbalanced state of the mind that could have resulted in a different perception of nature. The crows have also been depicted in the painting as symbolism. However, a question arises on whether the crows are flying away from the painter to express a sign of relief or flying towards the painter to draw imminent danger. The appearance of the crows represents death as symbolism, but the controversy over the direction of fate is still controversial. Another debate on the meaning of crow in this work is the fact that he always admired all nature and acknowledged other painters work on crows like that of Giacomelli.

The "Wheat Field with Crows " could also be analyzed on the hidden aspects that only appear at a close look on the painting. Using brush strokes, the painter paints a giant bird that resembles clouds filling the sky. What could be the huge bird represent? This is just an example of how this piece of art has marveled many people for generations. Another hidden aspect of the paint is revealed by looking at the bundle of clouds mainly on the center right side. Anticlockwise rotation of the area about 1300 reveal a left human ear. A dig into Vincent Van Gogh history reveal he had an amputated left ear. So, what was the imagery of hiding this in the paint of "Wheat Fields with Crows?" Answers to some questions in this painting will remain to be discussed for a long time.

In conclusion, "Wheat Field with Crows" can be analyzed in many ways ranging from simple to new interpretations. Trying to over concentrate on the work leaves one with many questions unanswered. The best way to enjoy the painting is to look at the simple subject like the color, brush strokes and the vitality of this masterpiece.