Corridor in the Asylum by Vincent Van Gogh Postcard

Corridor in the Asylum by Vincent Van Gogh, gouache (opaque watercolor) on paper 1889, is a painting depicting a view down a long, arched corridor of the Hospital Saint-Paul de Mausole in Saint-Remy, France. Van Gogh suffered a breakdown early in that year and interred himself in the facility, where he produced many famous masterpieces such as Starry Night. The contrasts of warm yellow and red tones combined with the deep perspective of the corridor with its lone figure create a warm but disturbing image of isolation and loneliness. Vincent Van Gogh (1853 - 1890) was a Dutch painter of the Post-Impressionist movement known for bold, expressive drawing, swirling brushstrokes and bold, heightened colours. In early adulthood Van Gogh worked as an art dealer, teacher and pastor before taking up the full time study of drawing and painting in his late twenties. Influenced by Rembrandt, the 19th century Realists and Barbizon school, Van Gogh's early paintings featured studies of workers and peasants in sombre earth tones. Moving to France in 1886, Van Gogh met with the startling innovations of the Impressionist painters and began to apply their approach to colour and subject matter, which continued into the mature style for which the artist is most renowned. Van Gogh produced many hundreds of drawings and paintings including portraits, landscapes, still life and flower paintings, and numerous self-portraits that became a dominating influence on the modern art of the 20th century and made him one of the most popular artists of all time.