Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh was born in 1853 in Holland.

He did not decide to become an artist until he was a grown-up. He tried many jobs first - working in an art gallery, teaching, working in a bookstore and being a preacher. None of these jobs made him happy.

Early Paintings

Vincent Van Gogh’s early paintings had dark colours and were often sad. He painted images of the poor people he helped while he was a preacher. He wanted people to know how difficult life was for poor people.

Use of Colour

Van Gogh discovered some colourful Japanese artwork and loved the bright colours and strong lines. He began painting much more colourful images.

Arles, France

Van Gogh spent time in Arles, France painting. He painted a lot. He used so much paint that he sometimes stopped buying food so he could buy more paint.

Popularity of Van Gogh

While he was alive, people were not very interested in Van Gogh’s paintings. He only sold a few of his drawings and one or two paintings. People just weren’t used to the bright pictures Van Gogh painted.

Now, Van Gogh’s paintings are popular around the world.

References/Sources

Getting To Know The World’s Greatest Artists: Van Gogh. Written and Illustrated By: Mike Venezia.