Family & Life: Vincent Willem Van Gogh was born in Groot-Zundert, Holland, on March 30, 1853, to Theodorus van Gogh and Anna Cornelia Carbentus as the second oldest child of six. Though he was involved in two serious relationships, Van Gogh never married. He did have a close relationship with his younger brother, Theodorus (Theo). After a long stint of physical illness and mental instability, Van Gogh died on July 29, 1890, in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Early Experience: Van Gogh’s exposure to art began early through his uncle, also named Vincent, who established a branch of the art gallery, the Hague. At the age of 16, Van Gogh began an apprenticeship with Goupil & Cie international art dealers. He worked for this company in several locales including London and Paris until he was fired in March 1876. At this point, he undertook a career as a preacher, but this endeavor was short lived as well.
The Artist: In 1881, Van Gogh made the decision to undertake the study of art. Of this decision, one biographer writes, “With surprising speed, the clumsy but enthusiastic apprentice develops a strong artistic personality with his color effects and simple but unforgettable compositions” (Expo-VanGogh.com). His early work focused on peasant life and was predominantly dark in coloring. His later move to southern France brought in nature and landscapes in which his use of vivid colors is renowned.
Selected Paintings:
- Wheat Field with Crows (Auvers-sur-Oise: July, 1890)
- Thatched Cottages at Cordeville (Auvers-sur-Oise: June, 1890)
- Portrait of Doctor Gachet (Auvers-sur-Oise: June, 1890)
- Starry Night (Saint-Rémy: June, 1889)
- Irises (Saint-Rémy: May, 1889)
- Vase with Twelve Sunflowers (Arles: January, 1889)
- The Smoker (Paris, 1888)
- Self-Portrait with Felt Hat (Paris, 1887)
- The Potato Eaters (Netherlands, 1885)
Notable Quote: "It is only too true that a lot of artists are mentally ill - it's a life which, to put it mildly, makes one an outsider. I'm all right when I completely immerse myself in work, but I'll always remain half crazy."
Regarding Bipolar Disorder: Throughout his life, Van Gogh gave evidence of mental instability having a difficult and moody personality. Various biographies - all from the perspective of history - describe him as suffering with epilepsy, depression, psychotic attacks, delusions, and bipolar disorder. In December 1888, Van Gogh experienced a psychotic episode in which he threatened the life of Gauguin, a personal friend and fellow artist. This episode also brought about the notorious incident in which Van Gogh cut off a piece of his own left ear offering it as a gift to a prostitute. Subsequently, he consigned himself to a mental asylum for more than a year, but left in frustration because his condition was not improving.
“On July 27, 1890, Vincent walks to a wheat field and shoots himself in the chest. He stumbles back to his lodging, where he dies two days later, on July 29, with Theo at his side. He is buried in Auvers on July 30. Among the mourners are Lucien Pissarro, Emile Bernard, and Père Tanguy. Bernard describes how Vincent's coffin is covered with yellow flowers, ‘his favorite color. . . . Close by, too, his easel, his camp stool, and his brushes had been placed on the ground beside the coffin' " (Van Gogh Museum).
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