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Vincent Van Gogh

By, Blake

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Biography of Vincent Van Gogh Early Life

Vincent Van Gogh was born March 30, 1853 in Holland. He had three sisters and two brothers. He spent his early years not very interested in art. He was raised in a religious household. His father was a pastor. He thought that he would follow in his father's footsteps and preach. He was closest to his brother Theo and they would have a close lifelong friendship. When Van Gogh was a teenager, his family fell on hard times.

Bridge and Houses on the Corner of Herengracht-Prinsessegracht, The Hague, 1882

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Biography of Vincent Van Gogh Mid Life

At age sixteen, Vincent was forced to start working. He had several jobs, but was not truly dedicated to any of them. His brother Theo convinced him to pursue a career in art. He finally started painting and moved around Europe often looking for inspiration. He suffered from a type of epilepsy that took form in discussions and psychotic attacks. It was during one of those attacks that he famously cut off his own ear. He eventually checked himself into an asylum.

The Potato Eaters, painted in 1885

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Biography of Vincent Van Gogh End Life

Throughout his life, he was constantly second guessing his career choice as an artist. Most of his work comes from the last 10 years of his life. He died on July 27, 1890 from a gunshot to the stomach. It was ruled suicide, but today, evidence suggest that it may have been an accident. His brother Theo died six months later. It was Theo’s wife that then took ownership of most of Van Gogh’s work. She made it her mission to get her brother-in-law the recognition he deserved.

Vincent and Theo’s Graves Stones

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Style of Work

Vincent Van Gogh is started with drawing and sketching, however, he is most famous for his brushstrokes of thickly laid paint. This style is known as Impasto. Impasto gives an almost three dimensional quality to the work and reflects light differently, depending on the angles. The paint can be applied with a brush or knife.

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Top Five Works of Art

Starry Night
Sunflowers
Irises
Wheat Field with Cypresses
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear

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Starry Night

Starry Night is Van Gogh’s most recognized painting. He painted it in 1889 while staying in the asylum.

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Sunflowers

He painted five versions of these paintings while in the south of France from 1888-1889. They represented gratitude for Van Gogh.

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Irises

Irises was painted in the first week of being in the asylum, 1889. Each iris is unique and the vivid use of color stands out.

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Wheat Field with Cypresses

Wheat Field with Cypresses is yet another painting that was created in 1889 while Van Gogh was in the asylum. He was surrounded by cypresses and started a collection of works that would feature the beautiful trees.

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Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear

This painting was done shortly after returning home from the hospital. Van Gogh had mutilated his own ear in 1889. Van Gogh used a mirror to paint his self-portraits which is why some think he lost his right ear, when in reality he cut off his left ear.