Ekphrastic Poetry/ Vincent van Gogh

How can art inspire writing in the classroom?

Photo Source: The Box Gallery

The word ekphrasis originates from Greek language and is mainly used in its adjective form “ekphrastic“.

Ekphrastic poetry can be defined as poems inspired by another work of art, generally paintings. It can also be considered a literary response to a non-literary work.

Example: Painter Joan Mitchell & Poet James Schuyler

Photo Source: Painters and Poet

 

Daylight

And when I thought,
 “Our love might end”
the sun
 went right on shining.

 

 

 

 

You can find more examples of ekphrasis here.

Integrating the ekphrastic poetry, I designed an artful lesson to enhance creativity and expand intellectual knowledge of my students in my B1 level class. The content of the lesson was mainly focused on the world famous artist Van Gogh. (Because I realized that most of my students can’t recognize  some of the most popular art works of Van Gogh, who is one of the greatest painters of all times.)

I created a mini art exhibition by hanging most famous paintings (color print) by Van Gogh on the walls of the classroom with song “Vincent” by Don McLean in the background. The reason why I used this song was that Don McLean composed it about Van Gogh after reading his biography, and the lyrics reveals some details not only about him but also his paintings.

LESSON 1

Step1: Introduce the paintings

When students entered the classroom, I gave each student the name of one painting on a piece of paper. Then, I asked them to post it on the right painting (match the title with the painting.) while looking at the paintings on the wall.

  • Wheatfield With Crows, 1890
  • The Potato Eaters, 1885
  • Bedroom In Arles, 1888
  • Self-Portrait With Bandaged Ear, 1889
  • Cafe Terrace At Night, 1888
  • Sunflowers, 1888
  • The Starry Night, 1889
  • Red Vineyards at Arles, 1888

Step 2: Who is Van Gogh?

I prepared a set of information about Van Gogh and the paintings on the wall. I asked students to get one information paper from the desk and stick them below the relevant paintings. There was also a separate column for the specific information about Van Gogh.

You can also check this link for more facts about him at the preparation stage of the lesson.

Examples:

  • There was another Vincent van Gogh before him – his brother who died during labor was given the same name.
  • Van Gogh only started painting at the relatively late age of 27 and was mostly self-taught.
  • During his lifetime, van Gogh created about 2,100 pieces of art, 860 of which were oil paintings. Most of them were done in the last 2 years of his life.
  • Because he couldn’t afford to pay models, van Gogh would initially paint flowers, landscapes, and himself. He painted over 30 self-portraits.
  • While he was alive, van Gogh only sold one painting, The Red Vineyard. He didn’t become famous until after he died.
  • There are many theories surrounding the van Gogh ear cutting incident.

Then, we sat in a circle to share what we learned about Van Gogh and his paintings. I guided them through some questions such as

  • When was Vincent born?
  • Which of his paintings did he made in the mental hospital?
  • How many paintings did he made in total? Did he sell them?

 

Step 3: Work on the lyrics

 

Students were given a paper with the lyrics of the song “Vincent” on it. They were asked to analyze it in connection with the paintings and information on the wall.

 

 

They could make some connections as below:

  • Flaming flowers: Sunflowers, 1888
  • Swirling clouds in violet haze: The Starry Night, 1889
  • Field of Amber Grain: Wheatfield With Crows, 1890
  • Weathered Faces: The Patato Eaters, 1885
  • You took your life, as lovers often do: His suicide
  • When no hope was left in sight: His suicide
  • This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you: His suicide
  • With eyes that know the darkness in my soul:  He suffered from mental illness
  • How you suffered for your sanity: He suffered from mental illness
  • Now I think I know what you tried to say to me: He became famous after his death.

 

LESSON 2: Ekphrasis! Poems inspired by paintings

Step 4: Free Writing

*This stage were designed to prepare students for the poem they would write in the next stage.

Students were asked to choose one painting to work on.

Then, they were given a handout with the instructions.

Handout: ART INTEGRATION- Vincent Van Gogh- Ekphrasis

While they were looking at the paintings, I facilitated the free writing process for my students through the questions below that encourage deep focus:

  • What do you see in the paintings? List them.
  • What color is the brightest/ faintest? What feelings can you associate these colors with?
  • If you were in the painting, what/who would you see around? What would you smell? What would you hear? How would the weather be like? How would you feel?
  • What about the season, month?
  • What else do you see? How do you describe them?
  • How would Vincent Van Gogh feel while painting it? Was he alone?

Completing free writing, they were asked to circle 5 words on it.

Examples:

“It is a sunny day. Stars are shining. It will rain soon. So the air smells fresh like woods. The village is crowd but it has silence around. I think wind isn’t real. It is just like his imagination. Mountain is dark and deserted.”

“Looking at the stars makes me dreamy. Also, there is darkness that feel me a bit depressed. The most of the painting the painter use dark color. It shows the pessimism in the inner world of painter. There is a little bit light colors; yellow and white. It describes light in the dark showing hope inside of the painter. I think he contradict himself…”

Step 5: Ekphrasis

Students were explicitly introduced to the Ekphrastic Poetry and reminded about the connection between the Vincent song and the paintings.

They were asked to write a poem in response to the painting they chose by using the words they circled on their writing along with the instructions below:

Your poem can be about

  • the scene or the subject depicted in the painting
  • your experience of looking at the painting
  • how/why Van Gogh created this artwork

You can write your ekphrastic poem

  • by using your own voice
  • in the voice of Van Gogh
  • in the voice of the figures in the painting

In the end, they shared their ekphrastic poems with the class.

“These are stars in the darkness
My hopes are useless
Painter uses lots of colors
The world without you is meaningless.”

 

“In the dark shadow of the windy nights
Tears clouded my eyes.
I had a vivid dream of you
that you died.
I looked at you in silence
and remembered;
We always lived in the stars of the starry night.”

 

*After the lesson, students were suggested to watch the fully-painted animated biographical drama movie “Loving Vincent” about the life of Van Gogh.

♥ I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Brown University Sheridan Center for the workshop ” Ways of Looking III: Teaching Writing through Art” held in the RISD Museum for the inspiration.

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