Quinn McNamara
English 1010 F 9:00-12:00
Professor McKeever
5 November 2012
Van Gogh as an Allusion
Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was a popular Dutch
Post-Impressionist painter. His works were known for bright colours and swirling
brush strokes showing emotion in his paintings. He is known for many famous
works such as a Sterry Night (1889).
Even thought he was a famous painter Van Gogh went through deep depression
leading to a rough argument with his lover Guaguine where he cut off part of his
own ear to show his love for her. Amongst his paintings he made a Self-
Portrait with a Bandaged Ea (1889). He eventually committed suicide due to
his depression. Van Gogh is used as an allusion when someone disfigures or does
something to themselves in the name of love or depression. An example of this
is found in John Banville’s The Book of
Evidence (1989) in which he wrote “I went in search of Randolph. He wore a
large lint pad pressed to the left side of his head, held in place by a
rakishly angled and none-too-clean bandage. . . . he bore a striking
resemblance to poor, mad Vincent in that self-portrait made after he had
disfigured himself for love.” (qtd. In Delahunty, Dignen, Stock 27) The phrase
is using Van Gogh as an allusion, calling the man Van Gogh due to him
disfiguring himself because of love conflicts and depression
like Vincent did.
Works Cited
Delahunty, Andrew, Sheila Dignen and Penny Stock. “Van Gogh” The
Oxford Dictionary of Allusions. New York: Oxford UP, 2001.
Print
English 1010 F 9:00-12:00
Professor McKeever
5 November 2012
Van Gogh as an Allusion
Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was a popular Dutch
Post-Impressionist painter. His works were known for bright colours and swirling
brush strokes showing emotion in his paintings. He is known for many famous
works such as a Sterry Night (1889).
Even thought he was a famous painter Van Gogh went through deep depression
leading to a rough argument with his lover Guaguine where he cut off part of his
own ear to show his love for her. Amongst his paintings he made a Self-
Portrait with a Bandaged Ea (1889). He eventually committed suicide due to
his depression. Van Gogh is used as an allusion when someone disfigures or does
something to themselves in the name of love or depression. An example of this
is found in John Banville’s The Book of
Evidence (1989) in which he wrote “I went in search of Randolph. He wore a
large lint pad pressed to the left side of his head, held in place by a
rakishly angled and none-too-clean bandage. . . . he bore a striking
resemblance to poor, mad Vincent in that self-portrait made after he had
disfigured himself for love.” (qtd. In Delahunty, Dignen, Stock 27) The phrase
is using Van Gogh as an allusion, calling the man Van Gogh due to him
disfiguring himself because of love conflicts and depression
like Vincent did.
Works Cited
Delahunty, Andrew, Sheila Dignen and Penny Stock. “Van Gogh” The
Oxford Dictionary of Allusions. New York: Oxford UP, 2001.