The intent: to capture the kindness and beauty this significant woman has demonstrated throughout her life. Van Gogh created the portrait of his mother after receiving a photograph of her from his sister Wilhelmina. His reasoning to do so was expressed in a letter: “I am doing a portrait of Mother for myself. I cannot stand the colorless photograph, and I am trying to do one in a harmony of color, as I see her in my memory.” Although it is clear what van Gogh’s intent was because of his letter to Theo, Manet is less obvious. Manet painted many portraits of women, all which seem to comment more on their place in the world rather than their inner psyche. However, Manet produced several portraits of his wife that differ from his usual style, which prompts the question: Why? Despite there being several portraits, each portrait seems to vary with Madame Manet’s attitude; however, each portrait has the same underlying fondness. In this portrait, Manet manages to capture his wife’s softness through color and brushstrokes, while van Gogh achieves this through his mother’s delicate smile. Although the two share the same intent, it is clear that the idea is significantly lost in Portrait of the Artist’s Mother because of the ghastly green and sickly pale tone. Despite the intent being the same, it is clear who was able to accurately depict their emotions:
The intent: to capture the kindness and beauty this significant woman has demonstrated throughout her life. Van Gogh created the portrait of his mother after receiving a photograph of her from his sister Wilhelmina. His reasoning to do so was expressed in a letter: “I am doing a portrait of Mother for myself. I cannot stand the colorless photograph, and I am trying to do one in a harmony of color, as I see her in my memory.” Although it is clear what van Gogh’s intent was because of his letter to Theo, Manet is less obvious. Manet painted many portraits of women, all which seem to comment more on their place in the world rather than their inner psyche. However, Manet produced several portraits of his wife that differ from his usual style, which prompts the question: Why? Despite there being several portraits, each portrait seems to vary with Madame Manet’s attitude; however, each portrait has the same underlying fondness. In this portrait, Manet manages to capture his wife’s softness through color and brushstrokes, while van Gogh achieves this through his mother’s delicate smile. Although the two share the same intent, it is clear that the idea is significantly lost in Portrait of the Artist’s Mother because of the ghastly green and sickly pale tone. Despite the intent being the same, it is clear who was able to accurately depict their emotions: