Genres of Paintings Painting Genres    

Lesson 20: Portrait - Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear

by Vincent van Gogh

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's genre.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh's portrait, 'Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear,' was painted shortly after he was released from the hospital after losing his ear. Van Gogh is reputed to have cut off his own ear, although some historians believe he might have lied to protect his friend and fellow artist, Paul Gauguin, who may have cut Van Gogh's ear off with a sword during an argument. Note that the painting is a mirror image - it was actually Vincent van Gogh's left ear that was cut off. His ear is heavily bandaged, and he wears a warm furry hat and green overcoat. The background shows a canvas on an easel. The painting also includes a reproduction of a print by Sato Torakiyo, a Japanese print featuring Mount Fuji and women holding fans that hung in Van Gogh's studio. This work is a special type of portrait called a 'self-portrait,' when the artist paints their own portrait.

Vocabulary

Portrait: A painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person, especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders.
Canvas: A piece of canvas cloth prepared for use as the surface for an oil painting.
Easel: A self-supporting wooden frame for holding an artist's work while it is being painted or drawn.
Self-Portrait: A portrait of an artist produced or created by that artist.

Concepts

1. Portrait paintings typically feature a single human as the primary subject.
2. Portraits are often commissioned by the person being painted or their family.
3. Portraits are historically been painted for the rich and powerful, who could afford to pay for their paintings. Today, portraits may also be commissioned by those in the middle class.
4. The goal of the portrait is usually not to accurately represent reality and the subject's flaws, but rather to produce a flattering likeness of the subject.
5. Select types of portraits include, 1) Full-length, 2) Half-length, 3) Bust, 4) Profile, 5) Full-face, and 6) Three-quarters view.
6. See below examples of six common types of portraits: 1) Jacques-Louis David's 'Madame Récamier' (Full-length, Three-quarters), 2) Velázquez's 'Pope Innocent X' (Half-length, Three-quarters), 3) Mary Cassatt's 'Portrait of Madame Sisley' (Bust, Profile), and 4) 'Charles I in Three Positions' by Sir Anthony van Dyck (Half-Length with Profile, Full-face, and Three-quarters).

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Zoom in to find the following in the artwork:

• Bandage
• Warm Coat
• Warm Hat
• Japanese Print
• Fans
• Mount Fuji
• Easel
• Canvas
• Window

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Map the Artist

Zoom in to find the country of the artist, the Netherlands.

Activity 4: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 43 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Activity 5: Create A Portrait   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 44 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'
• Using crayons, color pencils, pastels, or paint, create a portrait.
• Beforehand, discuss whether you plan to include a full-length, half-length, bust, profile, full-face, and/or three-quarters view of the subject.
• Also consider whether you plan to draw or paint someone else or to use yourself as the subject in a self-portrait.

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 6

Answer 1

The character in the artwork is Vincent van Gogh, the artist.

1 / 6

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 6

Answer 2

The setting is indoors, probably inside van Gogh's painting studio.

2 / 6

Question 3

Why is Vincent van Gogh wearing a bandage?

3 / 6

Answer 3

Vincent van Gogh is wearing a bandage because his ear was recently cut off.

3 / 6

Question 4

Describe the background of the painting?

4 / 6

Answer 4

The background of the painting includes a canvas and easel and a Japanese print. A window is also visible.

4 / 6

Question 5

Into which genre is this painting classified?

5 / 6

Answer 5

This painting falls into the self-portrait genre.

5 / 6

Question 6

Is the portrait best described as a full-length, half-length, bust, profile, full-face, and/or three-quarters view?

6 / 6

Answer 6

This painting is best described as a bust with a three-quarters facial view.

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The character in the artwork is Vincent van Gogh, the artist.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is indoors, probably inside van Gogh's painting studio.
3. Why is Vincent van Gogh wearing a bandage? Vincent van Gogh is wearing a bandage because his ear was recently cut off.
4. Describe the background of the painting? The background of the painting includes a canvas and easel and a Japanese print. A window is also visible.
5. Into which genre is this painting classified? This painting falls into the self-portrait genre.
6. Is the portrait best described as a full-length, half-length, bust, profile, full-face, and/or three-quarters view? This painting is best described as a bust with a three-quarters facial view.

References

'Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Portrait painting.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Portrait.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.