Vincent van Gogh Giclée Fine Art Prints 5 of 17

Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in the small village ofroot-Zundert in the southern Netherlands. He was the oldest surviving child of Theodorus van Gogh, a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, and Anna Cornelia Carbentus. Vincent had two younger brothers, Theo and Cor, and three younger sisters, Elisabeth, Anna, and Willemina.

In 1869, at the age of 16, Vincent began working for the art dealer Goupil & Cie in The Hague, where his uncle was a partner. He was transferred to the London branch in 1873 and then to the Paris branch in 1875. However, he became increasingly disillusioned with the art trade and was dismissed in 1876.

After leaving Goupil & Cie, Vincent tried various occupations, including teaching, working in a bookstore, and preaching in a Methodist congregation. In 1877, he moved to Amsterdam to study theology but failed the entrance exam. He then volunteered as a lay preacher in a mining community in Belgium, where he became deeply involved in the lives of the poor and began to draw.

In 1880, Vincent decided to become an artist, and his brother Theo, who had become an art dealer, supported him financially. Vincent's early works were primarily drawings and watercolors, but he soon began to experiment with oil painting. He moved to Brussels and then to The Hague, where he studied with his cousin, the painter Anton Mauve.

In 1885, Vincent painted one of his most famous works, "The Potato Eaters," which depicted a group of peasants sharing a meal. The painting was criticized for its dark, earthy colors and rough technique, but it marked a turning point in Vincent's career.

In 1886, Vincent moved to Paris to live with Theo. There, he was exposed to the work of the Impressionists and began to experiment with brighter colors and lighter brushstrokes. He also met and befriended several artists, including Paul Gauguin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Émile Bernard.

In 1888, seeking a quieter environment, Vincent moved to Arles in the south of France. He rented a small house, which he called the "Yellow House," and invited Gauguin to join him. The two artists worked together for several months, but their relationship became increasingly strained, culminating in a violent argument in December 1888. Vincent, in a fit of mental instability, cut off part of his own ear and was hospitalized.

After his release from the hospital, Vincent continued to paint in Arles, but his mental health deteriorated further. In May 1889, he voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. During his year-long stay, he painted some of his most famous works, including "Starry Night" and a series of paintings of the asylum's gardens.

In May 1890, Vincent moved to Auvers-sur-Oise, a small village near Paris, to be under the care of Dr. Paul Gachet, an amateur artist and friend of several Impressionist painters. Vincent continued to paint prolifically, but his mental health remained fragile. On July 27, 1890, he shot himself in the chest and died two days later, on July 29, at the age of 37.

Vincent van Gogh's work was largely unrecognized during his lifetime, but his reputation grew rapidly after his death. Today, he is considered one of the most important and influential artists in the history of Western art.