Quite simply, we can analyse art and art history in terms of interpreting artistic works as "expressions of their artists' lives and personalities" (Adams). When you think back to our study of iconography, try to think of the icons prevalent in an artist's catalogue as symbols from their lives...symbols that tell of their thoughts, capture their loves and fears, and open a window into the artists' soul.
Our text, Art Across Time, uses Vincent Van Gogh as an example for the biographical method. Let's look at the following self-portraits, in chronological order, from Van Gogh's portfolio and see what we can glean about the artist:
http://www.wga.hu/html_m/g/gogh_van/16/
By understanding the artist's life, combined with choices for subjects, themes and elements of design, we are given an interesting look into the artist's life and beliefs!
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