Vincent van Gogh

Dutch postimpressionist painter (1853-1890)

Vincent van Gogh certainly fits the image of the archetypal tortured artist — a persona that is evident in the many passionate letters he wrote. Van Gogh is well known today for cutting off his own ear, and though he is now considered one of the greatest artists in history,...

Vincent van Gogh certainly fits the image of the archetypal tortured artist — a persona that is evident in the many passionate letters he wrote. Van Gogh is well known today for cutting off his own ear, and though he is now considered one of the greatest artists in history, he is only known to have sold one painting during his lifetime. 
Born in 1853 in the Netherlands, Van Gogh pursued various careers, including being a pastor, before committing to art in his late 20s. He was largely overlooked and financially unsuccessful during his lifetime, but thanks in large part to the efforts of his late brother’s wife, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, his paintings went on to fetch record bids and critical acclaim after his death. Despite his relatively short career, Van Gogh produced more than 2,000 works, including nearly 900 paintings, that vividly expressed his emotional intensity. His postimpressionist paintings such as “The Starry Night,” “Sunflowers,” and “The Bedroom” had a profound impact on modern art, inspiring movements such as fauvism and expressionism. Van Gogh struggled with mental illness throughout his life, and took his own life at age 37 in 1890.