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KMID : 1148220130090020049
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Journal of Arts Psychotherapy
2013 Volume.9 No. 2 p.49 ~ p.71
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World of Vincent Van Gogh’s Artwork as a Process of Overcoming Bipolar Disorder
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Kim Soon-Ja
Ki Jung-Hee
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Abstract
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The purpose of this paper is to study Vincent Van Gogh's artwork from the perspective of nerve disorder. From this perspective, his artwork is assumed to have formed in the process of overcoming the bipolar disorder. Gogh’s bipolar disorder can be viewed as being progressively developed from initially a depressive episode leading to both manic and depressive episodes at the same time. The manic episode was periodic at first, but as deteriorated, it started to appear and irregularly. Eventually, he ended up committing a suicide due to this deep depression. Gogh's artwork had changed with regard to the progress of the bipolar disorder. The change is as follows. First, as for the choice of colour, the darkest colours used in the early period of his work changed to intense primary colours and showed complementary colour contrast. Afterwards, more intense primary colours, mixing colours, colourless and low-saturated colours were shown. Second, in terms of the touch used in his works, coarse and bold touch reformed to short and small touch and chaotic and bold touch. Afterwards, his artworks showed orderly and bold touch and curved dynamic touch; then turbulent touch with the coexistence of order and disorder appeared in his art. As described above, this research reviews the characteristics and the changing process of Gogh's artwork in accordance to the progression of bipolar disorder through the revision of his artworks based on his neurological disease. This perspective will help not only to deepen the understanding of Gogh's artwork but also holds important implications in understanding patient's artwork in art therapy.
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KEYWORD
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Vincent Van Gogh, Bipolar Disorder, Colour, Touch
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