Speaking Boost · B2 · Lesson 44 of 50
Speaking Boost B2 · Block 9: Arts and Media

Why did Van Gogh sell so little?

Vincent van Gogh painted for about a decade, and his paintings are now among the most famous in the world. Learn to give your opinion, justify it, agree and disagree politely.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Painting and art

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Do you like painting? Do you paint?
  2. Which paintings do you know?
  3. Have you ever been to an art gallery?
  4. Do you prefer old art or modern art?
  5. Would you hang a famous painting at home?
  6. What makes a painting good?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say your opinion about a painting.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Painters usually paint on a piece of strong cloth called a .
  2. A single movement of the brush on the surface is a .
  3. A public show of works of art is an .
  4. A person who writes opinions about art is a .
  5. He did not receive much public during his lifetime.
  6. A public sale where people offer money for things is an .
  7. A painting of a person's face is called a .
  8. A painting of fields, hills and trees is a .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a canvas is a piece of
  2. a critic gives
  3. recognition = public
  4. vivid = very
  5. expressive = showing
  6. to value = to think something is
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to give opinions and to agree or disagree.

  • In my opinion,...На мою думку,...In my opinion, his colours are amazing.
  • I tend to think that...Я схильний думати, що...I tend to think that he was ahead of his time.
  • As far as I'm concerned,...Що стосується мене,...As far as I'm concerned, the art matters more than the price.
  • That's why...Ось чому...He was unusual, and that's why many people ignored him.
  • I see your point, but...Я розумію вас, але...I see your point, but I'm not sure that's true.
  • I couldn't agree more.Цілком згоден.I couldn't agree more; his paintings are full of life.
  • I'm not convinced that...Я не переконаний, що...I'm not convinced that money is a sign of success.
  • The reason I say this is...Причина, чому я так кажу,...The reason I say this is that I saw his paintings in Amsterdam.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Van Gogh

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Why did Van Gogh sell so little?

Vincent van Gogh was born in the Netherlands in 1853. He started to paint seriously only at about the age of twenty-seven, and he died in 1890, at the age of thirty-seven. In about ten years he created around 2,000 works, among them around 860 oil paintings, portraits, landscapes and still lifes.

During his lifetime, he sold very few paintings. Several reasons are suggested. His style, with thick, energetic brushstrokes and strong colours, was unusual for the time, and many critics and buyers were not ready for it. He was also not good at promoting himself, and he spent a great deal of time alone. His brother Theo, who worked as an art dealer, supported him with money and with encouragement, and we know a great deal about Vincent's thoughts from the hundreds of letters that he wrote.

After his death, the situation slowly changed. Theo's widow, Johanna, worked hard to organise exhibitions and to publish the letters. By the early twentieth century, Van Gogh was gaining recognition, and today his paintings are loved all over the world. Some have been sold at auctions for very large sums.

In my opinion, the story shows that success and quality do not always go together. However, others would say that Van Gogh needed the right time to be understood.

What do you think: would he have been successful today?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Van Gogh painted for about ten years.
  2. He sold hundreds of paintings during his lifetime.
  3. His brother Theo supported him.
  4. Johanna helped to make his work known after his death.
  5. The text says Van Gogh was famous at the time of his death.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Why was his style not accepted at first?
  2. Does an artist need recognition to create great art?
  3. Would a painter like Van Gogh be successful today?
  4. Is the price of a painting a sign of its value?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Giving and justifying opinions

Start with a phrase: in my opinion, I think that, I tend to think, as far as I'm concerned. Then give a reason with because, since, that's why, the reason I say this is. Use examples: for instance, for example.

In my opinion, his colours are amazing. I tend to think that he was ahead of his time. He was unusual, and that's why many people ignored him.

Agreeing and disagreeing politely

Agree: I agree, I couldn't agree more, that's true. Partly agree: I see your point, but... Disagree: I'm not sure that's true, I'm not convinced that..., I'd say the opposite. Say I agree with you, not I am agree.

I couldn't agree more. I see your point, but I'm not sure that's true. I'm not convinced that money is a sign of success.

Block 9 review

Use the grammar from this block.

defining relative clauses (L41) · non-defining relative clauses and which (L42) · participle clauses (L43)

Common mistakes: I think that + opinion, agree with someone, and a comma after the linking phrase. ✗ I am agree with you → I agree with you. ✗ In my opinion, I think → In my opinion, … / I think …

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. , his colours are amazing.
  2. I
    that he was ahead of his time.
  3. , the art matters more than the price.
  4. He was unusual, and
    many people ignored him.
  5. , but I'm not sure that's true.
  6. I
    .
  7. I'm not
    that money is a sign of success.
  8. I
    .
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I am agree with you. →
  2. On my opinion, his colours are amazing. →
  3. He agree with me about the painting. →
  4. As far I'm concerned, art is important. →
  5. I'm not convince that this is true. →
  6. I see you point, but I disagree. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Give your opinion, give reasons, agree and disagree politely.

  1. In my opinion, what makes a painting good?
  2. Do you agree that an artist needs recognition? Why or why not?
  3. As far as you're concerned, is modern art worth its price?
  4. Which artist was ahead of their time, and why?
  5. I tend to think that art should be free. Do you agree?
  6. Which painting would you hang in your home, and why?
5

Three views on Van Gogh and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on Van Gogh

Three people give opinions about Van Gogh. Compare their views. Who agrees most with you? Who disagrees with the others? Do you think success in life matters for an artist?

Person 1

Elena, 32

  • Is an art teacher
  • Says Van Gogh was ahead of his time
  • Couldn't agree more that he needed support
  • Shows his paintings to children
Person 2

Mr Okoye, 58

  • Is a collector
  • Is not convinced that old paintings are always better
  • Values quality more than names
  • Has visited the museum in Amsterdam
Person 3

Pia, 20

  • Studies design
  • Says the colours are vivid
  • Sees the point of the critics
  • Thinks social media would have helped him
5.2

Mini-talk: my opinion about art

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: give your opinion about a painting or an artist and give two reasons.
  3. Part 2: say what you agree with and what you disagree with in the lesson.
  4. Part 3: say what you would do if you lived at his time (with the second conditional) and end with your overall view.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. In your opinion, what is the most beautiful place in your country?
  2. Do you think old buildings should be preserved?
  3. What is your opinion about modern art?
  4. Which painting do you like most, and why?
  5. Do you prefer colour or black and white?
  6. Would you like to be an artist?
  7. Do you visit exhibitions?
  8. What do you think about selling art at auctions?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who is the best artist you know?
  2. Who in your family draws or paints?
  3. Who has the same taste as you?
  4. Who do you disagree with most?
  5. Who taught you to look at art?
  6. Whose opinion do you trust?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Should museums be free?
  2. Is it fair that some artists become rich after they die?
  3. Can a computer make real art?
  4. Is art necessary?
  5. Should governments pay artists?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Discussing a painting

You

Visitor

You visit a gallery and discuss a painting with a guide (your teacher):
  • give your first impression
  • say what you like and why
  • agree or disagree with the guide
  • say whether you would buy it
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Give opinions and reasons.
Your teacher

Guide

Says things like:
  1. What do you think?
  2. Why do you say that?
  3. Some people disagree.
  4. Would you buy it?
7.2

A polite disagreement

You

Speaker

You and a friend (your teacher) disagree about whether art should be expensive:
  • give your opinion
  • give a reason
  • say you see their point
  • disagree politely
You do most of the talking. Use: In my opinion,... · I see your point, but... · I'm not convinced that...
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Art should be free!
  2. Why do you think so?
  3. But artists need money.
  4. OK, fair enough.
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

canvasbrushstrokeexhibitioncriticrecognitionauctionportraitlandscape
  1. Painters usually paint on a piece of strong cloth called a .
  2. A single movement of the brush on the surface is a .
  3. A public show of works of art is an .
  4. A person who writes opinions about art is a .
  5. He did not receive much public during his lifetime.
  6. A public sale where people offer money for things is an .
  7. A painting of a person's face is called a .
  8. A painting of fields, hills and trees is a .
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. , it is a great film.
  2. I .
  3. , it doesn't matter.
  4. I , but I disagree.
  5. I'm not that it's true.
  6. He was unusual, people ignored him.
  7. I that it is too expensive.
  8. I .
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. In my opinion, his colours are amazing.
  2. On my opinion, his colours are amazing.
  3. I agree with you.
  4. I am agree with you.
  5. I see your point, but I'm not sure that's true.
  6. I'm not convince that money is a sign of success.
  7. As far as I'm concerned, the art matters more than the price.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. In my opinion,
  2. I tend to think
  3. As far as I'm concerned,
  4. He was unusual,
  5. I see your point,
  6. I couldn't
  7. I'm not convinced

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.