ied, rearranged, criticized by the new standards, and then refuted. What the young painter was looking for was character; Character at the very end, so that even if he painted landscapes or animals or just bare fields with cypresses one would still feel that all such things at a point in time came in close contact with man. No subject was low and unworthy of consideration. It was particularly at this time that Van Gogh’s friendships with other post-impressionist painters like Gauguin, Cezanne, Pissaro, and Lautrec were cemented. They proved to be instrumental in his later days, and even though he tried to improve his painting techniques by learning theirs he never fell to imitating. Gjikondi 5While still in Paris, Van Gogh was constantly meditating on a painting style and technique of his own, and he associated some elements of it with those seen in the paintings of Delacroix. It was fortunate that he came to know Delacroix’s paintings. It drove him to desire a land which was brighter in color and character than Paris. His attention was directed towards Arles, south of France.As always, the brothers discussed the idea and with Theo’s support and free from the influence of any other painters, Van Gogh traveled to Arles. His stay in Arles proved to be the most productive period in his life. Many a time the natives would see Van Gogh, pass by them, with a canvas, a color box, and carrying a frame underneath his arm, his red beard even more noticeable and rougher now that no formal appearances were required of him. He would poke his hat and slide candles through the holes so that he could paint during nighttime as well. He wore the haggard hat the whole time because he loved painting outdoors, and the sun of the French Province would burn one’s skin up in a matter of hours. He was used to the opposition of the elements of nature and took it as the natural order of things. In Holland, he used to paint amo...
