Vincent van Gogh

A Dutch painter who produced 2,100 works in a decade - most in his final two years - then shot himself at 37. Died unknown, became the template for the tortured genius.

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A life in dates

1956Lust for LifeBiopic about his life30 November 1956More about this, 1956 film by Vincente Minnelli, George CukorIMDb1914The Letters of Vincent van GoghBook published after his deathMore about this, collection of letters written and received by Vincent van Gogh1890Died29 July 18901876“Theo, your brother has preached for the first time last Sunday in God's dwelling..”In their wordsIn a letter to Theo, from Isleworth England, Autumn 1876, (letter 79); as quoted in Vincent van Gogh, edited by Alfred H. Barr; Museum ofRead the whole statement

“..Our life is a pilgrim's progress. I once saw a very beautiful picture: it was a landscape at evening.”In their words29 October 1876Quote of Vincent van Gogh, from his 'First Sunday Sermon': 'I Am a Stranger on the Earth..'; 29 October 1876Read the whole statement

1875“There was a sale here [in Paris] of drawings by Millet, I don't know whether I've already written to you about it.”In their words29 June 1875Quote of Vincent's letter to his brother Theo van Gogh, from Paris, Tuesday, 29 June 1875; from the original text of letter 36, translated;Read the whole statement

“My dear Theo, Thanks for your letter of this morning. Yesterday I saw the Corot exhibition. It included a painting of the 'Mount of Olives'; I'm glad he painted that.”In their words31 May 1875quote from his Letter #034 to Theo (Paris, 31 May 1875)Read the whole statement

1874“I've got nature and art and poetry, and if that isn't enough, what is?”In their wordsJanuary 1874From a letter to his brother Theo van Gogh, January 1874Read the whole statement

1872“I am sure you will like it, it is such a fine business [art-dealer]..”In their words13 December 1872Quote in his letter to brother Theo from The Hague, The Netherlands (13 December 1872); as quoted in Vincent van Gogh, edited by Alfred H.Read the whole statement

1853Born30 March 1853

Photos 12

Vincent van Gogh in 1866.

Van Gogh's home in Cuesmes; while there, he decided to become an artist

Kee Vos-Stricker with her son Jan c. 1879-80

Rooftops, View from the Atelier The Hague, 1882, private collection

In their own words 10

Vincent van Gogh

10 statements, newest first

If I should find something it will probably be a position between clergy man and missionary in the suburbs of London among the working people. Do not speak to anybody about it yet.
Jun 17, 1876, In his letter to brother Theo from Welwyn, England, 17 June 1876; as quoted in Vincent van Gogh, edited by Alfred H. Barr; Museum of Modern, Own words
Theo, your brother has preached for the first time last Sunday in God's dwelling..
1876, In a letter to Theo, from Isleworth England, Autumn 1876, (letter 79); as quoted in Vincent van Gogh, edited by Alfred H. Barr; Museum of, Own words
Text: Psalm 119:19. I am a stranger on the earth, hide not Thy command ments from me. Are we what we dreamt we should be? No, but still the sorrows of life..
Oct 29, 1876, Quote from van Gogh's first sermon, 29 October, 1876; as quoted in Vincent van Gogh, edited by Alfred H. Barr; Museum of Modern Art, New, Own words

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Born into an upper-middle-class Dutch family in 1853, van Gogh worked as an art dealer before a transfer to London left him depressed. He turned to religion, spent time as a Protestant missionary in Belgium, then drifted in ill health until taking up painting in 1881, supported financially by his brother Theo. His early peasant scenes and still lifes were dark; after moving to Paris in 1886 and meeting the avant-garde, his palette exploded. In Arles in 1888 he painted wheat fields, olive trees, sunflowers - bold, impulsive, the foundations of modern art. Psychotic episodes followed: he severed part of his own ear after a confrontation with Gauguin, cycled through psychiatric hospitals, and on 27 July 1890, shot himself in the chest. He died two days later, unsuccessful and considered a madman. Fame came after, when the Fauves and Expressionists borrowed his style and the world decided he'd been misunderstood all along.

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Netherlands

Artists from the Netherlands 6

Pieter Bruegel the Elder64.6

Piet Mondrian64.5

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