Looking at ‘A Wheatfield, with Cypresses’ by van Gogh at the National Gallery – answers
1 He is drawn to the painting.
2 As an image of nature in animation.
3 As being almost like flames.
4 Rolling and animated.
5 That it is blowing the wheat in the foreground.
foreground – usually at the front, or at the bottom of a two-dimensional work – the opposite of the background
You get a sense of the wind – a sense of something is an impression of something
6 As moving and very alive.
7 He says he has a very particular take on nature in flux.
a take on sth – an interpretation or view of – Eg ‘What’s your take on yesterday’s budget?’ ‘She didn’t have any particular take on why the business had lost so much money.’
8 In a mental asylum.
Note This term is very rarely used in the UK nowadays. For individuals who need to be kept secure the term ‘mental hospital / home’ or ‘home for the mentally ill’ or ‘centre for the medically ill / disturbed’ is common. A centre / residential home could also be the term used for mentally or physically disabled people.
9 A breakdown.
to have a mental / physical breakdown – to collapse mentally or physically
10 When he was in the depths of insanity.
11 As he came out of extreme insanity. When he was not suffering from extreme insanity.
12 As extremely creative and as moments of supernatural lucidity.
13 It is the antithesis of city life.
14 The sun, fields, the country and the south (of France).
15 1) the bright colours 2) the sense of nature in movement and 3) the sense of freedom in the picture.