Why did Van Gogh choose the color palette that he did?

Answer 1

In the late 1800s you couldn't exactly drive to the nearest art supply store and buy paint. Most paint offered for sale came from shops in the larger cities. And there wasn't a lot of consistency in colors offered by the different manufactures of the paint.

Most paint back then was produced from natural pigments (which ranged from berries to sunflowers to ashes to animal blood, etc.) and the availability of a variety of natural pigments varied from country to country. Most artists learned to blend and create different shades of color from the primary paints they bought.

Van Gogh's palette was mainly limited to his ability to buy the different colors available back then and, more importantly, by his ability and desire to create the different colors from the primary colors he had at hand.

Here are the available colors (by popular name) that most manufacturers in Europe in the late 1800s strived to keep as consistent as possible:

Prussian Blue
Cobalt Blue
French Ultramarine
Cerulean Blue
Mauve

Emerald Green
Viridian
Chromium Green Oxide
Cobalt Green
Zinc White (Chinese White)
Rose Madder (Lamb's Blood)
Rose Petal

Alizarin Crimson
Midnight Black (Widow Black)
Cadmium Yellow
Chrome Yellow
Aureolin
Zinc Yellow
Strontium Yellow
Lemon Yellow (Barium Chromate)
Indian Yellow
Egyptian Brown (Mummy)
Ashphaltum

Answer 2

Personally, I use Venetian, as well as Winsor&Newton. Venetian is a little less expensive. They both go a looooong way, and they are definitely good quality paint. If you are just a beginner to Acrylic painting...I would start with an even cheaper paint until you develop your style...then you will be able to decide whether you want a really high quality paint for intricate work, or if you are doing the whole abstract, expressionist thing...

Answer 3

Painting is feeling and living in the moment, He was one of those who could actually feel what would be the best and look good at the end. But it is sad that some painters today don't paint what they see or want, they put their self in a pain full position and paint what the world would want just for money. There are very few painters that can say " Yes I like my painting" because in today's live no one is satisfied!! He did what he felt was rite!!

Answer 4

He had such a deep dark mind. His palette reflected that.Are you aware he painted with his own blood! He was a very interesting character!♥

Answer 5

Colors was the state of his mind !

Answer 6

Cause it was the palette he liked .

Must of known something ,Huh ?

Answer 7

he painted what colors that he felt. whatever era he was in will show what colors he used

Answer 8

someone whispered in his ear what colours to use

Answer 9

It was handy.