Street Scene in Montmartre: Le Moulin a Poivre by Vincent Van Gogh
Oil on canvas
34.5 x 64.5 cm.
Paris: February-March, 1887
About the Art
Montmartre was still semi-rural when lived Vincent there with his brother Theo. There was farmland and allotment gardens; three of the celebrated windmills were still standing. The latter were a favorite destination for day-trippers from the city. The largest mill in the painting, Le Blute-Fin, had a pavement café affording a magnificent view over Paris; at the top of the mill, there was a viewing platform. Round the mills there were also various catering establishments and dance halls.
Here Van Gogh stresses the rustic charm of the area, showing people working in their allotments. Nonetheless, modern development looms: to the left of the smaller mill, a large apartment building rises above the fields.
Here Van Gogh stresses the rustic charm of the area, showing people working in their allotments. Nonetheless, modern development looms: to the left of the smaller mill, a large apartment building rises above the fields.
About the Artist
The two years Van Gogh spent in Paris were arguably the most pivotal of his career as an artist. Van Gogh went to Paris as a means of saving money (by living with his brother, Theo) and also to explore the radically new approach to art which had been ushered in by the Impressionists. Vincent encountered many of the giants of Impressionism during his time in Paris: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Emile Bernard, Camille Pissarro, Georges Seurat and, of course, Paul Gauguin. While Vincent didn’t fully accept many of the theories put forth by the Impressionists (on many occasions he would passionately argue with his contemporaries late into the night in the cafes of Montmartre), he nevertheless adapted some of their techniques in a manner that would further define his own unique style. In Paris, Van Gogh’s palette came alive.
Blog Tour
The Blog Tour deadline is March 28th.
Links must be added to the monthly challenge post comments (this post).
The Blog Tour will be on the 30th.
Monthly Challenge Winners
Winners will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on April 1st.
Our Sponsors
Our Sponsors this month are Captured Moments and Kristi Bowman Design.
Please visit us Monday to see the prizes!
Featured Designer of the Week:
From all the entries during the month, an editor is going to pick their favorite design to be featured every Monday here on ABS. We want to give our participants more time in the spotlight! Our Featured Designer will be this Monday, so get those entries in soon.
How to enter the Monthly Challenge:
1. Create something using an art bead that fits within our monthly theme. We post the art to be used as your inspiration to create. This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc. The art bead can be created by you or someone else. The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork.
***Beads strung on a chain, by themselves and beads simply wire or cord will not be accepted.***
2. Upload your photo to our flickr group. Detailed instructions can be found here and click here for a tutorial for sending your picture to the group.
Please add the tag or title MAR ABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.
Deadline is March 31st. Photos are approved by our moderators, if a photo hasn’t followed the guidelines it will not be approved. You may upload 2 photos a day.
What is an Art Bead?
An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.
***A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.
Beaded beads, stamped metal pendants or wire-wrapped components are not considered art beads for our challenge.***
p.s. If you have a blog, post your entry and a link to the ABS challenge to spread the beady goodness.
Rebecca
March 2, 2012 at 10:45 amThis is so very fitting for me – I returned yesterday from a trip to Paris, where we were staying with friends who now live in Montmartre! It is still a great area, especially if you're a city girl like me. And the colours of this picture are of course perfect from La Belle France!
Alice
March 2, 2012 at 1:07 pmA fabulous piece of art! Well, I've missed the first two months of the 2012 challenges, but I hope I can get in gear for this one.
Cillaw
March 2, 2012 at 1:23 pmI am inspired for sure!
Cilla
http://www.tellyourgirlfriends.com
Cece Cormier
March 8, 2012 at 3:07 pmI'm a fan of Vincent. Blogged about it here:
http://www.thebeadingyogini.com/2012/03/07/march-2012-art-bead-scene-challenge/
Creative Designs by Cheri
March 8, 2012 at 10:43 pmI think this a great way to spread the word about my blog by networking with fabulous artists like yourself. I will also post this on my business facebook page http://www.facebook.com/cherilr44
http://www.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com
jenna
March 13, 2012 at 4:35 pmGot my blog entry up: http://honeybijou.blogspot.com/2012/03/marchs-abs-challenge.html
I think this is my favorite challenge so far.
Kim Idalski
March 14, 2012 at 11:24 amHERE IS MY ENTRY, MY BLOG: I HAVE POSTED THE PHOTOS ALSO TO FLICKER. THANK YOU FOR THIS CHANCE TO JOIN IN ON THE CHALLENGE. IT WAS A FUN PIECE. FESTIVE AND BRIGHT, AMAZING ARTIST.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog_post/Kimis-Jewelry-From-The-Heart/7245/mar_abs_-_art_bead_scene_monthly_challenge
steufel
March 14, 2012 at 2:08 pmBig van Gogh fan here:-) I submitted my pics to the flickr group and hope they are accepted. Here is the link
http://stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot.com/2012/03/art-bead-scene-challenge.html
beads are from the wonderfu polymer artist Vicky Taylor, one of my bead soup partner. LOOOOOOVE here stuff.
Lupe Meter
March 14, 2012 at 3:17 pmI had fun with this challenge…love all the colors in this piece! Here is my entry/blog. I have submitted photos on your flickr group as well.
http://gesmpccorner.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-abs-challenge.html Thank you for the opportunity to join in on the fun!
Neena Shilvock
March 17, 2012 at 9:58 amHi, Thanks for this – I am submitting my blog entry and will be submitting pictures to your flickr group as well
http://www.capriliciousjewellery.com/caprilicious-jewellery-blog.html
Islandgirl
March 20, 2012 at 12:55 pmHere's my official blog entry
http://www.islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca/2012/03/abs-march-challenge-street-scene-in.html
here's one from last week beofre I started putting things together
http://www.islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca/2012/03/bead-table-wednesday-almost-wordless.html
And thankyou so much for picking me as the designer of the week this week!
Molly Alexander
March 22, 2012 at 3:01 amWow – I absolutely love this inspiration piece! Here's my blog post with my challenge piece:
http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/2012/03/art-bead-scene-march-challenge.html
Thanks so much!
Tracy
March 26, 2012 at 1:41 amI love this painting. Here's my blog post with my challenge piece: http://thebeadjunkie.blogspot.com/2012/03/oh-la-la-french-inspired-art-bead-scene.html
Sally Russick
March 28, 2012 at 1:12 amThis painting is one of my favorites!! Please add me to the blog tour.
http://thestudiosublime.com/2012/03/27/art-bead-scenemarch-challenge/
Designed by Vera
March 29, 2012 at 12:44 amI almost didn't enter this, but found this vintage pin at a yard sale and of course the rest is history. My necklace can be found at http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-abs-necklace.html
Thanks!
Sharyl
March 30, 2012 at 12:05 amI'm so disappointed. I think I'm too late with my blog link! I'll submit anyway and give it a try. I've had the photo up on the Flickr page for a couple of weeks.
http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/2012/03/art-bead-scene-challenge-march-2012.html