10 Paintings: Vincent van Gogh Quiz

Answer: a mental asylum

Vincent van Gogh had suffered what many would consider a mental breakdown during which he partook in the self-mutilation of his ear. He admitted himself into the Saint-Paul de Mausolée Asylum, where he was able to set up an art studio for himself (the asylum was frequented mostly by the rich). "The Starry Night" represented his second-story view out his window, though the village below is idealized.

Interestingly, the actual window itself was covered with iron bars to prevent escape out of the window, though these obviously don't feature in the painting.

Answer: peasants

When writing to his sister, van Gogh mentioned that he believed this painting was his most successful, though when a friend criticized the painting, van Gogh grew furious and sent the fellow painter angry letters. The de Groot family lived with another family together in a small cottage. Van Gogh was said to have chosen models that he believed to be ugly as he thought that to be more natural in this particular setting.

While the subjects are certainly eating potatoes, they are also drinking coffee.

Answer: chrome yellow

Not all of the "Sunflowers" paintings have yellow backgrounds; some are various shades of blue. However, all of the paintings feature yellow and gold sunflowers. Van Gogh's use of a certain type of chrome yellow paint, which was common at that time, have shown evidence of rapid fading.

Though the "Sunflowers" series made him happy, the rumor that he ate yellow paint to achieve the same effect has no credence according to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. However, there was some evidence that he may have tried to drink paint mixed with turpentine in an effort to take his own life.

Answer: trapezoid

The left and right walls in the painting are parallel, while the far wall is at a diagonal. The far right side is actually farther back than the left side. This was actually van Gogh's bedroom in the Yellow House, where he stayed in France. The door to the left led to the bedroom he had prepared for his friend, Paul Gauguin.

Answer: He gave it to the cafe owner to pay off his debts.

Van Gogh owed the cafe owner, Joseph-Michel Ginoux, for room and board. He had stayed up late in the night cafe to experience the people who frequented the place: drunks, prostitutes, and those who had no other place to stay but in a cafe that was open all night. He gave the painting to Giroux to pay for his debts owed to him.

Though he has called the painting "one of the ugliest I've ever done," the meaning of this statement isn't just about its aesthetics, but it is also about its tone. The bright "blood-red" colors and the contrast with the green were meant to show the mood of this late-night hangout of ill repute.

Answer: Scotch plaid

This painting was also painted at the mental asylum at Saint-Rémy, though van Gogh was believed to have been well enough to be given privileges to go outside to paint. He was fascinated by cypresses, believing that they expressed a similar emotion to what he was feeling. Van Gogh also painted a smaller version of this painting, which he sent to his mother and sister as a gift.

Answer: Dr. Paul Gachet

"The Portrait of Dr. Gachet" was one of van Gogh's most famous portraits outside of his self portraits. The doctor was well-known as someone who worked with the psychological issues of artists. His sympathetic nature derived from the fact that he was an amateur artist himself.

Van Gogh distrusted the doctor at first, believing him to have just as many psychological issues as himself. However, they became friends quickly after due to the fact that they shared interests. Dr. Gachet has been criticized by some historians for his lack of ability to prevent van Gogh's ultimate suicide, though the doctor defended himself believing that van Gogh's vices, including alcohol, were what led him down the dark path he laid out for himself.

Answer: ukiyo-e

Van Gogh's love of Japanese art was not unusual for the time. In fact, French artists had begun to notice Japanese works widely in France and other Western countries, though part of that was due to the forced reopening of Japan. The ukiyo-e woodblock paintings were a huge inspiration to many French artists, and van Gogh often decorated his walls with printings of Japanese works.

Answer: He used a mirror while painting himself.

Van Gogh painted self-portraits prolifically. Using himself as a model was a cheap and cost effective way to practice. He used a mirror in these instances, so his portraits include the injured ear appearing on the right-hand side, though in actuality, he injured his left ear.

Answer: Arles

If visiting Arles, France, you can see the spot at which van Gogh set up his easel in the Place du Forum. The painting shows a strong preference for the color yellow, which became a theme in van Gogh's life: his Yellow House, the yellow stars in his night skies, the yellow sunflower paintings, and the numerous self-portraits, which often featured various shades of yellow.