Biography: Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Visionary Genius of Modern Art

Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), one of the most significant figures in art history, revolutionized Western art in merely a decade of artistic production. Initially an art dealer and later a lay preacher, he devoted himself to painting at the age of 27, evolving from a somber naturalistic style towards a brilliant palette and expressive brushwork that anticipated Fauvism and Expressionism. Financially supported by his brother Theo, with whom he maintained a correspondence of 652 letters, he progressed through several seminal creative periods: The Hague and Nuenen, Paris where he encountered Impressionism, Arles which witnessed the creation of his most celebrated works (The Sunflowers, The Starry Night), followed by Saint-Rémy where he was institutionalized following the ear-severing incident, and finally Auvers-sur-Oise where he executed 80 paintings in 70 days before taking his own life at 37. Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, his posthumous acclaim was secured through the efforts of Johanna Bonger, Theo’s widow, and his influence on modern art remains profound, with his oeuvre of over 2,000 paintings and drawings continuing to captivate audiences through its emotional power and exceptional chromatic intensity.

Biography of Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh, born March 30, 1853, in Groot-Zundert (Netherlands) and died July 29, 1890, in Auvers-sur-Oise (France), stands as one of the most iconic figures in art history. His colossal body of work, comprising over 2,000 paintings and drawings created primarily during the last decade of his life, bears witness to a meteoric artistic journey that revolutionized Western art. Initially naturalistic, influenced by Impressionism and Pointillism, his art heralded the Fauvism and Expressionism of the 20th century.

Van Gogh’s extensive correspondence, particularly with his brother Theo, provides invaluable insight into his creative process and artistic vision. This fraternal relationship, documented in 652 letters, represents the essential connection that enabled Vincent to pursue his artistic quest despite the personal and financial difficulties that marked his existence.

Origins and Formation (1853-1880)

Born into a family of the old Dutch bourgeoisie, Vincent van Gogh grew up in a household marked by the presence of his father, a Protestant minister. His childhood is described as serious and contemplative. Family influence was decisive, particularly that of his paternal uncles, several of whom were art dealers, including one associated with Goupil & Cie, where Vincent would begin his professional life.

In 1869, at the age of 16, he began his apprenticeship at Goupil & Cie in The Hague, a branch managed by his uncle Hein. This international art dealership allowed him to develop his knowledge of the artistic milieu. His career took him to London and then to Paris, but his refusal to regard art as mere merchandise led to his dismissal in 1876.

Van Gogh then turned to a spiritual and religious vocation, aspiring to become a minister like his father. After unsuccessful attempts at theological studies, he became a lay preacher in the Belgian Borinage in 1878. His commitment to the miners, whose precarious living conditions he shared, reflected his profound social compassion, but his mission was interrupted, deemed too radical by religious authorities.

Birth of an Artist (1880-1886)

In 1880, at the age of 27, Van Gogh decided to devote himself entirely to art. He enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels on the advice of painter Willem Roelofs. From February 1881, his brother Theo, now manager of a Goupil & Cie branch in Paris, began providing financial support, a sustaining relationship that would last until the end of his life.

The following years were dedicated to learning drawing and painting, particularly in The Hague where he received lessons from his cousin Anton Mauve. His palette was then somber, influenced by the realist Barbizon school and the Dutch painters he admired. During this period, he created his first significant works, including “The Potato Eaters” (1885), an emblematic painting of his Dutch period that demonstrates his interest in peasant life and the social conditions of the underprivileged.

Parisian Period (1886-1888)

In February 1886, Van Gogh joined his brother Theo in Paris. This Parisian period constituted a decisive turning point in his artistic evolution. He discovered the Impressionists, met Paul Signac, Émile Bernard, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Paul Gauguin, and familiarized himself with Neo-Impressionism. His palette brightened considerably, adopting vivid colors and a more fragmented touch.

In Paris, he also became interested in Japanese prints, which he collected, and whose influence would be decisive in his conception of space and color. This intense period of training and experimentation allowed him to rapidly absorb the pictorial innovations of his time while progressively forging his personal style.

Provençal Period (1888-1890)

On February 20, 1888, Van Gogh settled in Arles, seeking the brilliant light of Provence. This extremely fertile period saw the birth of some of his most famous works: “The Bedroom,” “Sunflowers,” “The Night Café.” His palette exploded with vivid, contrasting colors, while his touch became more expressive.

Dreaming of creating an artists’ community in his “Yellow House,” he invited Paul Gauguin to join him in October 1888. Their cohabitation ended dramatically on December 23 with the tragically famous episode of the cut ear, a manifestation of mental instability that would worsen. Following this incident, Van Gogh was hospitalized in Arles.

Faced with pressure from Arles residents who considered him dangerous, Van Gogh voluntarily entered the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in May 1889. During this year of internment, interrupted by crises, he painted relentlessly, producing major works such as “The Starry Night,” characterized by swirling forms and increased emotional intensity.

Final Days in Auvers-sur-Oise (May-July 1890)

In May 1890, on Theo’s advice, Van Gogh left the asylum to settle in Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris, where he was followed by Dr. Paul Gachet, a friend of the Impressionists. During the last 70 days of his life, he experienced a frenetic period of creation, producing nearly 80 paintings, including “The Church at Auvers,” “Wheatfield with Crows,” and “Tree Roots,” his final work.

On July 27, 1890, after painting “Tree Roots,” Van Gogh shot himself in the chest. He succumbed to his wounds two days later, on July 29, at the age of 37, with his brother Theo at his bedside. Theo, deeply affected by his brother’s death and himself suffering from syphilis, died six months later in January 1891.

Work and Artistic Style of Vincent van Gogh

Stylistic Evolution

Van Gogh’s artistic journey demonstrates a rapid evolution and an exceptional capacity for assimilating and transforming influences. Starting from a dark naturalism in his Dutch period, he adopted the lessons of Impressionism in Paris, to then develop a personal plastic language characterized by:

Color – Van Gogh used pure, contrasting tints, often complementary, applied in thick, expressive strokes.
Brushwork – His brushstroke progressively became more dynamic and structuring, conveying the emotional intensity of his vision.
Composition – Influenced by Japanese prints, he simplified forms and adopted bold framings.

Principal Themes

Van Gogh’s work is characterized by several recurring thematic cycles:

Self-portraits: Van Gogh created 37 self-portraits, testifying to his quest for identity and his technical explorations.
Still lifes: The “Sunflowers” series constitutes the most famous example of his work with flowers.
Landscapes: From Nuenen to Auvers-sur-Oise via Arles and Saint-Rémy, Van Gogh constantly reinterpreted the landscapes that surrounded him.
Nocturnal scenes: The representation of night was a pictorial challenge that particularly inspired him, culminating in masterpieces such as “The Starry Night” or “Café Terrace at Night.”
Portraits: Van Gogh endeavored to represent with empathy the people around him, from peasants to artist friends.

Pictorial Technique

Van Gogh often worked on canvases that were already prepared, which he could reuse by scraping off the previous work or covering it with a new layer. His technique of applying paint evolved toward a characteristic impasto, with visible brushstrokes that structure the composition.

His use of certain unstable pigments, such as geranium lake, which loses its red tint over time, has led to changes in the original appearance of his works, posing particular challenges for restorers. Recent studies have notably highlighted a chemical reaction affecting cadmium yellow in some of his paintings.

Correspondence and Intellectual Legacy

Van Gogh’s Letters

Van Gogh’s correspondence, primarily with his brother Theo, constitutes an exceptional document on his creative process and artistic thought. Of the 902 catalogued letters, 819 were written by him and 83 were addressed to him. Written in Dutch until 1886, then predominantly in French, these letters attest to his extensive artistic and literary culture, his reflections on art, and his profound aspirations.

These letters were not intended for publication but represent sincere introspection and valuable documentation on the artistic and intellectual context of his era. They also contain numerous preparatory sketches for his works.

Artistic Influences

Van Gogh drew upon varied artistic influences throughout his career:

Dutch masters: Rembrandt and Frans Hals
French realist painters: Jean-François Millet
Colorists: Eugène Delacroix, Adolphe Monticelli
Impressionists: Claude Monet, Edgar Degas
Neo-Impressionists: Paul Signac
Japanese prints by Hiroshige
His contemporaries: Paul Gauguin, Émile Bernard

Posterity and Recognition

Posthumous Recognition

The recognition of Van Gogh as a major artist truly occurred only after his death. This phenomenon is largely due to the efforts of Johanna Bonger, Theo’s widow, who inherited almost all of Vincent’s works. With determination, she organized exhibitions, published his correspondence, and established contacts with influential galleries and collectors.

From the 1890s, a few critics and artists recognized the importance of his work. The 1901 Salon des Indépendants in Paris marked a turning point in his international recognition. Russian collectors Ivan Morozov and Sergei Shchukin were among the first major buyers of his works. The market value of his paintings increased rapidly, as evidenced by the purchase of “Sunflowers” by the National Gallery in London in 1924.

In 1930, the exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which attracted 120,000 visitors, definitively established Van Gogh as one of the major artists in art history.

Influence on Modern Art

Van Gogh’s influence on 20th-century art is considerable. He is considered an essential precursor to several artistic movements:

Expressionism: His emotional use of color and expressive brushstrokes directly inspired artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Oskar Kokoschka.
Fauvism: His brilliant and non-naturalistic palette influenced Henri Matisse, Maurice de Vlaminck, and André Derain.
Symbolism: His conception of art as an expression of an inner reality presages certain aspects of symbolism.

The Van Gogh Myth

The figure of Van Gogh has generated a veritable myth in the collective imagination, that of the accursed artist, misunderstood in his lifetime, suffering from mental disorders and dying in misery. This romantic image, although partially founded, has sometimes obscured the reality of a cultivated artist, a hard worker fully conscious of his artistic approach.

Beyond this myth, it is indeed the intrinsic power of his work that ensures its permanence. As he himself wrote in his last letter: “Well, in truth we can only make our pictures speak.”

Conclusion

Vincent van Gogh embodies one of the most fascinating artistic trajectories in art history. In just ten years of creation, the last four of exceptional intensity, he developed a revolutionary pictorial language that transformed Western art.

His work, at the crossroads between tradition and modernity, constitutes an essential bridge between 19th-century Impressionism and 20th-century avant-gardes. The expressive power of his paintings, their chromatic intensity, and their emotional sincerity continue to deeply touch the public, making Van Gogh one of the most universally admired artists.

Beyond his artistic genius, it is perhaps this ability to communicate directly with the viewer, to convey an intensely personal vision of the world, that explains the lasting fascination exercised by his work. Van Gogh reminds us that authentic art is born of an absolute inner necessity and a total commitment of being.

Frequently Asked Questions about Vincent van Gogh

How many works did Vincent van Gogh create?

He created over 2,000 works throughout his artistic career, comprising approximately 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings and watercolors. The majority of this production was completed during the last ten years of his life (1880-1890), with particular intensity during the final four years. His most productive periods were Arles (1888-1889) where he created around 200 paintings, and Auvers-sur-Oise (May-July 1890) where he painted nearly 70 canvases in just two months.

Why did Van Gogh cut off his ear?

On December 23, 1888, after a violent dispute with Paul Gauguin in Arles, Vincent experienced a mental crisis during which he mutilated his left ear with a razor. This traumatic episode occurred in a context of artistic and personal tensions with Gauguin, physical exhaustion, and psychological distress. Historians still debate the exact causes of this act: bipolar disorder, temporal lobe epilepsy, or consequences of alcoholism. This incident marked the beginning of a series of crises that led Van Gogh to voluntarily admit himself to the asylum in Saint-Rémy in May 1889.

Did Van Gogh sell any paintings during his lifetime?

The artist sold only one painting during his life: “The Red Vineyard” (1888), purchased for 400 francs by Anna Boch in 1890, a few months before his death. Despite the constant support of his brother Theo, an art dealer in Paris, and a few exhibitions, Van Gogh achieved no commercial success during his lifetime. He depended entirely on Theo’s financial support, who regularly sent him money to meet his needs. This lack of commercial recognition contrasts tragically with the astronomical value of his works today, which rank among the most expensive in the world.

What is Van Gogh’s most famous work?

“The Starry Night” (1889) is his most famous and iconic work. Painted in June 1889 from his room at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, this canvas depicts the night sky with cosmic swirls above a Provençal village. Housed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, it has become an icon of world art. Other highly celebrated works include “Sunflowers” (1888), a series of seven paintings with several versions held in London, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Philadelphia, as well as “The Bedroom” (1888) and his self-portraits.

Who was Theo van Gogh to Vincent?

Theo van Gogh (1857-1891) was Vincent’s younger brother and his most steadfast supporter. An art dealer for the Boussod, Valadon & Cie gallery in Paris, Theo financed Vincent throughout his artistic career, regularly sending him money and painting supplies. The two brothers maintained an exceptional correspondence of 652 letters that today constitutes a precious testimony to Vincent’s life and artistic thought. Theo died just six months after Vincent, on January 25, 1891, at the age of 33. His widow, Johanna Bonger, inherited the entirety of Vincent’s work and worked tirelessly to have his artistic genius recognized.

Bibliographic sources

Van Gogh, Vincent – The Complete Letters of Vincent van Gogh, 3 vols., Thames & Hudson, London, 1958 (or New York Graphic Society, 1959)
Naifeh, Steven & Smith, Gregory White – Van Gogh: The Life, Random House, New York, 2011
Hulsker, Jan – The New Complete Van Gogh: Paintings, Drawings, Sketches, John Benjamins Publishing Co., Amsterdam, 1996
Pickvance, Ronald – Van Gogh in Saint-Rémy and Auvers, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1986
Sweetman, David – Van Gogh: His Life and His Art, Crown Publishers, New York, 1990
Rewald, John – Post-Impressionism: From Van Gogh to Gauguin, Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1956 (3rd ed. 1978)
Dorn, Roland – Decoration: Vincent van Gogh’s Werkreihe für das Gelbe Haus in Arles, Georg Olms Verlag, Hildesheim, 1990
Bailey, Martin – Van Gogh’s Finale: Auvers and the Artist’s Rise to Fame, Frances Lincoln, London, 2021
Silverman, Debora – Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Search for Sacred Art, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2000
Schapiro, Meyer – Vincent Van Gogh, Harry N. Abrams, New York, 1950
Tralbaut, Marc Edo – Vincent van Gogh, Viking Press, New York, 1969
Stein, Susan Alyson (ed.) – Van Gogh: A Retrospective, Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, New York, 1986
Walther, Ingo F. & Metzger, Rainer – Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings, Taschen, Cologne, 2012
Fell, Derek – Van Gogh’s Gardens, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2001
Druick, Douglas W. & Zegers, Peter Kort (eds.) – Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South, Art Institute of Chicago/Thames & Hudson, 2001

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Visionary Genius of Modern Art