Emperor Moth by Vincent Van Gogh Gel Mouse Pad

Emperor Moth (also called Death's Head Moth or Great Peacock Moth) by Vincent Van Gogh, oil on canvas 1889, is a painting of an enormous moth on a background of plants with large leaves and berries. Van Gogh painted the rare, nocturnal moth in vivid colors of black, grey and pinkish white against the expressively outlines leaves of the wild plant Lords and Ladies, a highly toxic plant with poisonous, bright red berries. The size of the insect with its enormous wings and the large plant leaves draw the eyes of the viewer in the vignette style composition, a remarkable example of the artist’s mature, Post-Impressionist style of painting. Vincent Van Gogh (1853 - 1890) was a Dutch painter of the Post-Impressionist movement known for bold, expressive drawing, swirling brushstrokes and intense, heightened colors. In early adulthood Van Gogh worked as an art dealer, teacher and pastor before taking up the full time study of drawing and painting in his late twenties. Influenced by Rembrandt, the 19th century Realists and Barbizon school, Van Gogh's early paintings featured studies of workers and peasants in somber earth tones. Moving to France in 1886, Van Gogh met with the startling innovations of the Impressionist painters and began to apply their approach to color and subject matter, which continued into the mature style for which the artist is most renowned. Van Gogh produced many hundreds of drawings and paintings including portraits, landscapes, still life and flower paintings, and numerous self-portraits that became a dominating influence on the modern art of the 20th century and made him one of the most popular artists of all time.