VINCENT van GOGH

*Vincent van Gogh – Biography

Introduction
*Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853 – 1890)* was a Dutch Post‑Impressionist painter whose vivid colours, bold brushwork, and emotional intensity reshaped modern art. Though he produced more than *900 paintings* and *1,100 drawings* in just over a decade, most of his work was created in the last two years of his life, and he sold only one painting while alive.

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Early Life & Family
- *Born 30 March 1853*, *Groot‑Zundert*, Netherlands, to *Theodorus van Gogh*, a Protestant pastor, and *Anna Cornelia Carbentus*.
- Sixth of seven children; his younger brother *Theo van Gogh* (art dealer) became his lifelong confidant and financial supporter.
- Religious fervor: worked as a lay preacher in a mining community (Borinage, Belgium, 1878‑1880), living in poverty, which later influenced his empathy for the working class.

Education & Early Careers
- 1869‑1876: Apprentice at *Goupil & Cie*, an art dealership in The Hague (influenced by his uncle). Dismissed in 1876 for lack of enthusiasm.
- Studied theology, then turned to drawing after failing to become a pastor.
- 1880‑1881: Enrolled at *Académie Royale des Beaux‑Arts*, Brussels, but left after a few months, preferring self‑study.

Artistic Development
- *The Hague (1881‑1883):* Began with dark, realistic peasant scenes (e.g., _The Potato Eaters_, 1885).
- *Antwerp (1885‑1886):* Discovered Japanese ukiyo‑e prints; started using brighter colours.
- *Paris (1886‑1888):* Joined *Theo* in Montmartre. Met *Paul Gauguin*, *Emile Bernard*, *Cloisonnism*. Influenced by *Impressionism*, adopted lighter palette, visible brushstrokes.
- *Arles (1888‑1889):* “*Sunflowers*”, “*The Bedroom*”, “*Starry Night Over the Rhône*”. Invited Gauguin; their turbulent partnership ended with the infamous *ear‑cutting incident* (December 1888).
- *Saint‑Rémy (1889‑1890):* Voluntarily entered *Saint‑Paul Asylum*. Produced *“The Starry Night”*, “*Irises*”, “*Cypresses*”.
- *Auvers‑sur‑Oise (May‑July 1890):* Under Dr. *Gachet’s* care. Painted *“Wheatfield with Crows”*, “*Portrait of Dr. Gachet*”.

Mental Health & Tragic End
- Suffered from *depression, anxiety, psychotic episodes*, possibly exacerbated by absinthe, malnutrition, and substance use.
- *27 July 1890:* Shot himself in the chest with a revolver; died two days later (29 July 1890) at age *37*. Buried in *Auvers‑sur‑Oise* cemetery, beside his brother Theo (who died six months later).

Legacy
- *Posthumous fame:* Theo’s widow *Johanna van Gogh‑Bonger* promoted his letters and works. Exhibitions (1901 Stedelijk, 1913 Armory Show) sparked global recognition.
- *Influence:* Expressionism, Fauvism, early abstraction; artists like *Matisse*, *Kandinsky*, *Pollock* cite his emotional use of colour.
- *Record prices:* _Portrait of Dr. Gachet_ (1990, $82.5 M), _Irises_ (1987, $53.9 M).
- *Letters:* Over *800 letters* (mostly to Theo) reveal his thoughts on art, life, and struggle.

Key Works (Brief)
Painting Year Location Note
The Potato Eaters 1885 Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Dark earth tones, empathy for peasants
Sunflowers (series) 1888 National Gallery, London; Van Gogh Museum Vibrant yellows, bold outlines
The Starry Night 1889 Museum of Modern Art, NY Swirling night sky, dreamlike turbulence
Irises 1889 J. Paul Getty Museum, LA Calm blues, Japanese print influence
Wheatfield with Crows 1890 Van Gogh Museum Foreboding mood, possibly his last work
*≈ 505 words*

Sources: _Van Gogh: The Life_ (Steven Naifeh & Gregory White Smith), Van Gogh Museum, Wikipedia.