Sien (Van Gogh series)
Encyclopedia
Vincent van Gogh
drew and painted a series of works of his mistress Sien during their time together in the Netherlands
. Commonly called Sien Hoornik, Clasina Maria Hoornik lived with Vincent van Gogh during much of his time in The Hague
from 1881 to 1883. Van Gogh used Sien, a pregnant prostitute, as a model for his work and later took Sien and her daughter into his home. Van Gogh made drawings and paintings of Sien and her daughter, baby and mother over that period, which reflected the domestic life and hardships of the working poor. Their relationship was not accepted by his family or supporters. Van Gogh left The Hague in 1883 to paint in Drenthe
. Sien resumed her life as a seamstress, cleaning woman and likely prostitute before marrying in 1901. She committed suicide in 1904, 14 years after Van Gogh's death.
. Mauve, "a leading member" of the Hague School
, introduced Van Gogh to painting with watercolor and oil. Van Gogh returned to his parents' home in Etten, but in 1882, after falling out with his father, he returned to The Hague where he rented a studio and studied further under Mauve.
Sien was born in 1850, the eldest of ten children of Pieter Hoornik, a porter in the poor district of the Geest, and his wife. Pieter died in 1875. To provide for the family Sien and her mother worked as seamstresses and cleaned homes. Their earnings were supplemented by what Sien's brother, Pieter, could provide from the income of his chair-making business. The family often relied upon public assistance. For a time Sien and some of her siblings lived at a Catholic orphanage, relying on assistance from the public soup kitchen and church charities. So meager were her earnings, she turned to prostitution for a better income. At the age of 32, the unmarried Sien had given birth to four children, two of whom lived: Maria Wilhelmina born about 1877 and Willem born July, 1882. Sien experienced poor health due to the post-operative effects of earlier surgeries, illness and venereal disease, which she seems to have passed to Van Gogh who was hospitalized in June 1882 for gonorrhea
.
Sien posed for Van Gogh throughout the winter. In exchange Van Gogh provided Sien and her daughter a place to live and food to eat. Sien was ill when he met her and he did what he could to nurse her back to health. Van Gogh considered marrying Sien to take care of her and keep her off the streets. He envisioned a life where Sien would be his helpmate, helping him further his artistic career. Sien wanted to be married to him, too, even though he was poor. His family, including his brother and supporter Theo
, were against the relationship and his hope for continued support was doubtful.
In June 1882, Van Gogh became quite ill and was hospitalized. Disobeying doctor's orders, he left the hospital July 1 to visit Sien in Leiden where she had just given birth to a baby boy. Van Gogh acquired an inexpensive house to rent with Sien and her two children. Sien required an extended period of recovery from a difficult pregnancy and delivery. The baby boy, though, seemed to bring a lot of happiness to Van Gogh. He explained that while he endeavored to go deeper as an artist, he was also looking to do so as a man.
about art and literature and gave Van Gogh his first set of art supplies when he decided to become an artist, withdrew from Van Gogh after his relationship with Sien. His teacher and cousin, Anton Mauve, ceased his support and tutelage of Van Gogh within a few short weeks of his meeting Sien. Both Tersteeg and Mauve were also concerned about Van Gogh's working class appearance and abrasive demeanor.
Van Gogh and Sien separated in the autumn of 1883. Van Gogh went to Drenthe
to paint and Sien went back to work as a seamstress, charwoman and possibly as a prostitute. Her children, Maria and Willem, lived with Sien's mother and brother Pieter. In 1901 Sien married a seaman, Anton van Wijk. She committed suicide in 1904 at the age of 54 in Rotterdam's harbor, 14 years after Van Gogh's death.
. Until 2011, no portraits were thought to exist of his brother Theo, to whom he was the closest. Now, the Van Gogh Museum’s senior researcher Louis van Tilborgh is convinced that one of the many ‘self-portraits’ by Vincent van Gogh is in fact a portrait of his brother Theo. This conclusion is based on a number of striking differences between Theo’s en Vincent’s features. Theo’s portrait, made in 1887, shows a man with shaved cheeks. Theo’s beard is not ‘red’ like Vincent’s, but more ochre. On top of that, this man’s ear has a fine rounded shell, unlike Vincent’s but like Theo’s.
Vincent had a particular interest in painting families of the working class, such as The Potato Eaters
, The Roulin Family and the domestic relationship with Sien, her daughter, baby and mother.
In a letter Van Gogh mentioned how he considered Sien his helpmate or partner in the creation of the works which depicted her. Van Gogh would write Theo about his relationship with Sien, saying that it wasn't exactly love between them but rather a mutual understanding. Vincent took Sien off the streets and provided for her and her children, and in return she posed for him.
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh , and used Brabant dialect in his writing; it is therefore likely that he himself pronounced his name with a Brabant accent: , with a voiced V and palatalized G and gh. In France, where much of his work was produced, it is...
drew and painted a series of works of his mistress Sien during their time together in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Commonly called Sien Hoornik, Clasina Maria Hoornik lived with Vincent van Gogh during much of his time in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
from 1881 to 1883. Van Gogh used Sien, a pregnant prostitute, as a model for his work and later took Sien and her daughter into his home. Van Gogh made drawings and paintings of Sien and her daughter, baby and mother over that period, which reflected the domestic life and hardships of the working poor. Their relationship was not accepted by his family or supporters. Van Gogh left The Hague in 1883 to paint in Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
. Sien resumed her life as a seamstress, cleaning woman and likely prostitute before marrying in 1901. She committed suicide in 1904, 14 years after Van Gogh's death.
Background
In late 1881, Van Gogh studied painting for several weeks in The Hague under his cousin by marriage, Anton MauveAnton Mauve
Anthonij Rudolf Mauve was a Dutch realist painter who was a leading member of the Hague School. He signed his paintings 'A. Mauve' or with a monogrammed 'A.M.'. He was a very significant early influence on his cousin-in-law Vincent van Gogh.Most of Mauve's work depicts people and animals in...
. Mauve, "a leading member" of the Hague School
Hague School
The Hague School is the name given to a group of artists who lived and worked in The Hague between 1860 and 1890. Their work was heavily influenced by the realist painters of the French Barbizon school. The painters of the Hague school generally made use of relatively sombre colours, which is why...
, introduced Van Gogh to painting with watercolor and oil. Van Gogh returned to his parents' home in Etten, but in 1882, after falling out with his father, he returned to The Hague where he rented a studio and studied further under Mauve.
Sien
In the winter of 1881-1882, Van Gogh met a homeless pregnant prostitute named Clasina (Sien) Maria Hoornik who had been deserted by the father of the child she was carrying.Sien was born in 1850, the eldest of ten children of Pieter Hoornik, a porter in the poor district of the Geest, and his wife. Pieter died in 1875. To provide for the family Sien and her mother worked as seamstresses and cleaned homes. Their earnings were supplemented by what Sien's brother, Pieter, could provide from the income of his chair-making business. The family often relied upon public assistance. For a time Sien and some of her siblings lived at a Catholic orphanage, relying on assistance from the public soup kitchen and church charities. So meager were her earnings, she turned to prostitution for a better income. At the age of 32, the unmarried Sien had given birth to four children, two of whom lived: Maria Wilhelmina born about 1877 and Willem born July, 1882. Sien experienced poor health due to the post-operative effects of earlier surgeries, illness and venereal disease, which she seems to have passed to Van Gogh who was hospitalized in June 1882 for gonorrhea
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The usual symptoms in men are burning with urination and penile discharge. Women, on the other hand, are asymptomatic half the time or have vaginal discharge and pelvic pain...
.
Sien posed for Van Gogh throughout the winter. In exchange Van Gogh provided Sien and her daughter a place to live and food to eat. Sien was ill when he met her and he did what he could to nurse her back to health. Van Gogh considered marrying Sien to take care of her and keep her off the streets. He envisioned a life where Sien would be his helpmate, helping him further his artistic career. Sien wanted to be married to him, too, even though he was poor. His family, including his brother and supporter Theo
Theo van Gogh (art dealer)
Theodorus "Theo" van Gogh was a Dutch art dealer. He was the younger brother of Vincent van Gogh, and Theo's unfailing financial and emotional support allowed his brother to devote himself entirely to painting...
, were against the relationship and his hope for continued support was doubtful.
In June 1882, Van Gogh became quite ill and was hospitalized. Disobeying doctor's orders, he left the hospital July 1 to visit Sien in Leiden where she had just given birth to a baby boy. Van Gogh acquired an inexpensive house to rent with Sien and her two children. Sien required an extended period of recovery from a difficult pregnancy and delivery. The baby boy, though, seemed to bring a lot of happiness to Van Gogh. He explained that while he endeavored to go deeper as an artist, he was also looking to do so as a man.
Reaction to his relationship with Sien
Due to his relationship with Sien, Van Gogh experienced the loss of support and goodwill from family and friends and he experienced an even more strained relationship with his parents. A long-standing family friend, Tersteeg, who taught Van Gogh and his brother TheoTheo van Gogh (art dealer)
Theodorus "Theo" van Gogh was a Dutch art dealer. He was the younger brother of Vincent van Gogh, and Theo's unfailing financial and emotional support allowed his brother to devote himself entirely to painting...
about art and literature and gave Van Gogh his first set of art supplies when he decided to become an artist, withdrew from Van Gogh after his relationship with Sien. His teacher and cousin, Anton Mauve, ceased his support and tutelage of Van Gogh within a few short weeks of his meeting Sien. Both Tersteeg and Mauve were also concerned about Van Gogh's working class appearance and abrasive demeanor.
Van Gogh and Sien separated in the autumn of 1883. Van Gogh went to Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
to paint and Sien went back to work as a seamstress, charwoman and possibly as a prostitute. Her children, Maria and Willem, lived with Sien's mother and brother Pieter. In 1901 Sien married a seaman, Anton van Wijk. She committed suicide in 1904 at the age of 54 in Rotterdam's harbor, 14 years after Van Gogh's death.
Depiction of families
Throughout his career, Van Gogh made few portraits of his close artistic or of family membersVan Gogh's family in his art
Van Gogh's family in his art is a group of works that Vincent van Gogh made for or about Van Gogh family members. In 1881 Van Gogh drew a portrait of his grandfather, Vincent van Gogh, and his sister Wil. While living in Nuenen, Van Gogh memorialized his father in Still Life with Bible following...
. Until 2011, no portraits were thought to exist of his brother Theo, to whom he was the closest. Now, the Van Gogh Museum’s senior researcher Louis van Tilborgh is convinced that one of the many ‘self-portraits’ by Vincent van Gogh is in fact a portrait of his brother Theo. This conclusion is based on a number of striking differences between Theo’s en Vincent’s features. Theo’s portrait, made in 1887, shows a man with shaved cheeks. Theo’s beard is not ‘red’ like Vincent’s, but more ochre. On top of that, this man’s ear has a fine rounded shell, unlike Vincent’s but like Theo’s.
Vincent had a particular interest in painting families of the working class, such as The Potato Eaters
The Potato Eaters
The Potato Eaters is a painting by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh which he painted in April 1885 while in Nuenen, Netherlands. It is housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam...
, The Roulin Family and the domestic relationship with Sien, her daughter, baby and mother.
Sien
The works of Sien, a 32 year old prostitute and seamstress, often depict her in traditional domestic feminine roles: a mother, seamstress, and domestic worker. In the drawing, Sorrow (F929, F929a, F1655), Sien represents a fallen woman. Some of the works are iconic, such as Woman Mourning (F935) and Mother with Child. When Van Gogh made drawings of Sien sewing, the compositions were simple as was her work. If she had been in a higher station in life, a painting of her sewing would no doubt have shown her performing embroidery. Rather than being an activity for enjoyment, Sien's sewing was one of drudgery.In a letter Van Gogh mentioned how he considered Sien his helpmate or partner in the creation of the works which depicted her. Van Gogh would write Theo about his relationship with Sien, saying that it wasn't exactly love between them but rather a mutual understanding. Vincent took Sien off the streets and provided for her and her children, and in return she posed for him.