English translation of the article:
Dutch Masters: The Life and Work of Vincent Van Gogh
When you think of history's great painters, chances are Vincent van Gogh is one of the first names that comes to mind. Although Van Gogh only started to become famous during his last years of life, this is not surprising!
Why is Van Gogh so famous?
After Van Gogh's death, it became his brother Theo's mission to really make Vincent's works known. Six months later, Theo contracted syphilis and died himself, but fortunately his widow Jo van Gogh-Bonger took over. Thanks to her work and dedication, Van Gogh is one of the most famous artists in the world today.
The life of Van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in Zundert, North Brabant. He was born exactly one year after his mother gave birth to another child. She had also named that child Vincent, but unfortunately that child was stillborn.
At the age of 16, Van Gogh left his parental home to work at a French art and print dealer in The Hague. During this period Vincent started writing letters to his brother. Those letters were instrumental in Van Gogh's eventual fame. Vincent also worked for this art dealer for a while in Paris and London and developed his knowledge of the visual arts.
In 1876, Van Gogh was fired from the art dealer and moved to England. There he worked as an assistant teacher, and later an assistant preacher. During this period of his life he struggled with great poverty and severe depression. In 1888 Vincent traveled to Arles, in the south of France. Here he painted a lot and was influenced by all the colours he encountered. He later moved to Auvers-sur-Oise where, despite his depression, he painted many of his most important works. In one of his letters he wrote:
“I am almost certain that in those paintings I have expressed what I cannot express in words. Namely, how healthy and heart-strengthening I find the countryside.”
How can that be seen? For example, because Van Gogh started painting faster and faster during periods when he was not doing well mentally. This was to express “the rapid passing of things in modern life” in his work. If you study his works you will indeed see very fast strokes and colours that overlap each other. The painting below, called 'The Garden at The Asylum at Saint-Rémy', also shows that style:
Ultimately, Van Gogh took his own life. He took a revolver to a cornfield near Auvers and shot himself in the chest. Van Gogh died from his injuries 30 hours after the shot.
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Marieke, OLS Community Manager