Life and achievements
Early life
Vincent van Gogh was born on 30 March 1853 in the village of Zundert in the province of North Brabant in the south of the Netherlands. He was the first child of Theodorus van Gogh, a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, and Anna Cornelia Carbentus. His childhood and teenage years were rather difficult and unproductive as he searched for his identity. Religion was also vital in Van Gogh's life, and at first, he wanted to become a priest like his father.
Van Gogh joined Goupil & Cie, an art dealer, at 16, a position he got from his uncle. This position led him to London and Paris, which meant that he was able to be introduced to the world of art and became fond of different styles. Unfortunately, he did not stay long in the art trade business. Due to the disillusionment and the desire for a more noble profession, van Gogh became a clergyman.
In 1878, van Gogh went to Belgium, specifically in the coal mining area known as the Borinage, to become a lay preacher. He was very devoted to the miners and their families, but he was an unorthodox and highly committed worker, resulting in his termination. This failure, coupled with several personal and career disappointments, only intensified his feelings of hopelessness and alienation.
However, van Gogh's time in the Borinage paved the way for his love for drawing and painting. Becoming an artist was something that van Gogh wanted to do, and his brother Theo encouraged him to do this and would remain a support for the rest of his life. He went to Brussels in 1880 to study art and formed his own style. The artist's early paintings were rather gloomy, and the themes were rather sad, which indicated the artist's compassion towards the working class and the sufferings they had to endure.
Despite all the hardships that Van Gogh faced, he never gave up on his dream of becoming an artist. His initial difficulties and setbacks provided the stepping stones for the masterpieces that would make him one of the world's most famous artists.
Legacy
Vincent van Gogh is one of the world's most significant and famous artists whose life was filled with personal problems and failures but whose paintings are considered masterpieces. Van Gogh's style is easily recognizable by the use of bright colors, vigorous brushwork, and the depiction of the movement, which has been admired by many artists and appreciated by the public.
Posthumously, van Gogh's work received recognition mainly due to the efforts of his brother's widow, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, after van Gogh died in 1890. She worked very hard to popularize his paintings and letters to the extent that his talent as an artist was recognized. By the beginning of the 20th century, van Gogh was already regarded as one of the leading artists of the new age, inspiring such styles as Fauvism and Expressionism.
It is not only the paintings that Van Gogh left behind as his contribution to society. His life and work, full of passion, fight, and determination, are still considered by many to be the life of a suffering artist. His written communication, especially the ones sent to his brother Theo, is one of the most detailed and analyzed accounts of an artist's mind and spirit, thus making him one of the most documented artists of all time.
Today, many of Van Gogh's paintings are considered among the world's most valuable and desirable pieces of art. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is dedicated to the artist's life and works and is proof of his fame.
Van Gogh's influence extends beyond the art world; literature, music, and films have also been influenced by him, proving that his work is relevant to the present. His life and work remain relevant and inspiring today, demonstrating how art can change the world and how one person's dreams can influence the world.
Milestone moments
Feb 21, 1886
Moving to Paris and Artistic Change
Vincent van Gogh relocated to Paris in February of 1886, a time that is considered the turning point in his art and life.
In Paris, he resided with his brother Theo, who took him through the new-age art world, the Impressionists, and tNeo-Impressionistssts.
This exposure to new art styles made van Gogh change his colors and brushwork to brighter and more vibrant ones, which was the total opposite of his previous works.
He was associated with artists like Paul Gauguin, Camille Pissarro, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who enhanced his art and connected him with other artists.
During his two years in Paris, van Gogh painted many paintings, including self-portraits, and became one of the most progressive and risky artists.
This period paved the way for his other great works and ensured his position in the art world, even if he did not sell his works during his lifetime.
Feb 21, 1888
Moving to Arles and the Yellow House
Vincent van Gogh moved to Arles, South France, in February 1888 to paint in the bright light he believed he could find there.
He chose the 'Yellow House' as his residence and aimed to develop it into a home for artists who would be inspired to work and create.
While in Arles, van Gogh created some of his most well-known pieces, such as "The Night Café," "Starry Night Over the Rhône," and "Sunflowers."
He was a very productive painter and tried new ideas and methods to portray the Provence region.
However, he started having mental problems; this is evidenced by the incident that occurred in December 1888, where he severed part of his left ear following a disagreement with Paul Gauguin.
Nevertheless, his years in Arles are considered one of his work's most creative and vital periods and a solid imprint on our history.
May 21, 1889
Admission to Saint-Paul-de-Mausole Asylum
Vincent van Gogh entered the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in May 1889 of his own free will due to mental disorders.
This was a significant moment in his life because he decided to get medical help for his ailment while simultaneously painting passionately.
At the asylum, van Gogh was free to paint and draw and found comfort in painting even though he was ill.
While in the asylum, he painted about 150 pieces, including The Starry Night, Irises, and Wheatfield with Cypresses.
The works created in this period testify to his inner suffering and bond with nature, depicted through dynamic lines and bright colors.
The period at the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole proved that Van Gogh was a man of great strength and determination who continued painting despite all the adversities he faced.
Jul 21, 1890
Final Months in Auvers-sur-Oise
Vincent van Gogh arrived in Auvers-sur-Oise in July 1890, a village near Paris, to be with his brother Theo and treated by Dr. Paul Gachet.
His last few months in Auvers were very productive and creative, as van Gogh painted over 70 paintings, such as "Wheatfield with Crows" and "Portrait of Dr. Gachet."
Nonetheless, van Gogh kept on painting and working, and even though he was a productive artist, he suffered from depression and despair.
Van Gogh died on 29 July 1890 after shooting himself in the chest on 27 July 1890, although the cause of the shooting is not fully known.
His early death at the age of 37 put an end to the very productive and inspiring work of an artist whose talents were fully revealed only after his death.
The last paintings of Van Gogh are considered the last cry of a desperate man who remained faithful to his vocation till the very end, thus making the artist one of the most prominent in art history.