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Quiz about 10 Paintings Vincent van Gogh
Quiz about 10 Paintings Vincent van Gogh

10 Paintings: Vincent van Gogh Quiz


Come explore some of the most influential paintings of this master Dutch post-impressionist who went from a relative failure in his time to one of the most famous painters in the world.

A photo quiz by trident. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
trident
Time
4 mins
Type
Photo Quiz
Quiz #
401,408
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
371
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 67 (9/10), polly656 (7/10), Guest 162 (4/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. What better place to start than van Gogh's most famous work? Finished in 1889, "The Starry Night" was painted in a particular locale in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in France. It depicts the view out of his window from which of these locations? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. "The Potato Eaters" (1885), or "De Aardappeleters" in Dutch, is another of van Gogh's most famous works and his subjects for the painting were a family named the de Groots. Which of the following best describes the de Groots? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. There are numerous van Gogh "Sunflowers" (1887-88) paintings, and the artist truly enjoyed painting them the most of all his works. The fourth version pictured here is likely the most famous. Art scientists have recently led studies into his pigments in these paintings as which of the following paints used by van Gogh has begun to fade rapidly? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Sure, the bedroom in van Gogh's painting "Bedroom in Arles" (1888) may look a little distorted with an odd perspective. But in fact, the real bedroom he was painting was not in the shape of a rectangle. What was its true shape? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Once calling it "one of the ugliest pictures I have done," Vincent van Gogh spent long nights at the Café de la Gare, a place for outcasts and drunks, to paint "The Night Café" (1888). What happened to the painting after he finished it? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "A Wheatfield with Cypresses" (1889) was believed to have been painted outdoors, or "en plein air." Van Gogh believed it to be his best summer painting, and in one instance, he wrote to his brother saying, "I have a canvas of cypresses with some ears of wheat, some poppies, a blue sky like a piece of ________." Which of these patterns did he compare the sky to? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Who was the subject of this 1890 portrait of whom Vincent van Gogh said, "I think that we must not count on __________ at all. First of all, he is sicker than I am, I think, or shall we say just as much, so that's that. Now when one blind man leads another blind man, don't they both fall into the ditch"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Fascinated with Japanese works, van Gogh would study Japanese techniques by re-creating them in his own hand. Many art historians claim that "Irises" (1889) was one of van Gogh's attempts at what Japanese art form? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Vincent van Gogh's appreciation for Japanese art can be seen in this painting, "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear" (1889). If you focus on the right side of his head, you can see a print of a Japanese wood block in the background, though most people focus on the bandage on his ear. Why does it appear he injured his right ear, while in actuality he injured his left? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. It is perhaps fitting that we return to a painting in which van Gogh has painted a scene with a starry night. In fact, it was the first painting he made with stars in a night sky. "Cafe Terrace at Night" (1888) depicts the Place du Forum in which French city, his home for around fourteen months? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What better place to start than van Gogh's most famous work? Finished in 1889, "The Starry Night" was painted in a particular locale in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in France. It depicts the view out of his window from which of these locations?

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.
2. "The Potato Eaters" (1885), or "De Aardappeleters" in Dutch, is another of van Gogh's most famous works and his subjects for the painting were a family named the de Groots. Which of the following best describes the de Groots?

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.
3. There are numerous van Gogh "Sunflowers" (1887-88) paintings, and the artist truly enjoyed painting them the most of all his works. The fourth version pictured here is likely the most famous. Art scientists have recently led studies into his pigments in these paintings as which of the following paints used by van Gogh has begun to fade rapidly?

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.
4. Sure, the bedroom in van Gogh's painting "Bedroom in Arles" (1888) may look a little distorted with an odd perspective. But in fact, the real bedroom he was painting was not in the shape of a rectangle. What was its true shape?

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.
5. Once calling it "one of the ugliest pictures I have done," Vincent van Gogh spent long nights at the Café de la Gare, a place for outcasts and drunks, to paint "The Night Café" (1888). What happened to the painting after he finished it?

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.
6. "A Wheatfield with Cypresses" (1889) was believed to have been painted outdoors, or "en plein air." Van Gogh believed it to be his best summer painting, and in one instance, he wrote to his brother saying, "I have a canvas of cypresses with some ears of wheat, some poppies, a blue sky like a piece of ________." Which of these patterns did he compare the sky to?

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.
7. Who was the subject of this 1890 portrait of whom Vincent van Gogh said, "I think that we must not count on __________ at all. First of all, he is sicker than I am, I think, or shall we say just as much, so that's that. Now when one blind man leads another blind man, don't they both fall into the ditch"?

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.
8. Fascinated with Japanese works, van Gogh would study Japanese techniques by re-creating them in his own hand. Many art historians claim that "Irises" (1889) was one of van Gogh's attempts at what Japanese art form?

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.
9. Vincent van Gogh's appreciation for Japanese art can be seen in this painting, "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear" (1889). If you focus on the right side of his head, you can see a print of a Japanese wood block in the background, though most people focus on the bandage on his ear. Why does it appear he injured his right ear, while in actuality he injured his left?

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.
10. It is perhaps fitting that we return to a painting in which van Gogh has painted a scene with a starry night. In fact, it was the first painting he made with stars in a night sky. "Cafe Terrace at Night" (1888) depicts the Place du Forum in which French city, his home for around fourteen months?

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.
Source: Author trident

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
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