Research Point - Van Gogh Ink Drawing

The Road to Tarascon (Van Gogh)

The Road to Tarascon is a good example of the various mark making Van Gogh used in his drawings.

His use of heavy hatching lines on the tree trunks and branches naturally reflect the texture of the bark. This technique has also been used to indicate the grass in the foreground.

Stippling has been used on the fields in the distance and the leaves on the trees. This has helped to express the natural texture of these forms.

There is a lot of movement amongst the foliage of the trees giving the expression of a windy day. This has been achieved by scumbling, were Van Gogh has used layers of scribbled marks to build up the value and texture of the leaves and foliage.

In the Road to Tarascon Van Gogh has used a combination of hatching, stippling and scumbling to create a bold, expressive sketch which reflects the form and texture of the subject.