Vincent van Gogh - biography, work and life of the Dutch master

If you look at the numerous self-portraits of the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), you can see a face that is drawn from life: the eyes are tired, the gaze seems to wander melancholy into the distance and the cheeks have come to mind.

In view of such self -portraits, it is astonishing that Van Gogh died at the age of only 37. Nevertheless, van Gogh was a man with many facets: whether in Paris, London or the Hague - his life was always turbulent and apparently never found peace.

Before he became an artist at the age of 27, he worked as an art dealer, auxiliary teacher or preacher. What all of his stations in life have in common is the search for a meaning, identity and a place in life.

Vincent van Gogh is undoubtedly one of the most renowned artists in modern history and his life serves many as an inexhaustible source of inspiration. The eccentric and plagued spirit is one of the most famous painters in Dutch art history . The artist is known worldwide. Not only his works of art are world famous, the artist's turbulent life is still in the spotlight.

This article gives you an overview of Van Gogh's turbulent life, his artistic works and his biography. Let us immerse yourself in the world of one of the most important artists of all time.

Profile and short biography

Profile - important key data

The most important key data on the artist celebrated worldwide today:

Short biography

Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Holland.

He grew up in his home country near the Belgian border and attended school there until 1869. Through his uncle, a renowned art dealer in the Haag, Vincent van Gogh gave first insights into the painting of contemporary artists and began his professional career.

But his career as an art dealer ended abruptly when his successor unexpectedly released him before he was able to return home. Nevertheless, van Gogh stayed in London and worked as an auxiliary teacher, whereby he had to live in a poor district and suffered on the streets from the hard conditions. This almost brought him to the edge of the collapse.

Finally he returned to his parents in December 1876 and decided to study theology . But after a year he realized that his religious beliefs and his view were incompatible with God and broke off his studies. Instead, he moved to Borinage in Belgium to work a hiking preacher But his over -zealous and noble desire to help others led him to destroy himself.

The dedication to his fellow human beings drove him not only to give away his clothes, but also his food to the needy. In 1878 he returned to his parents to devote himself to painting from now on. During this time, Van Gogh's first important works were created. After an examination of his parents, he left his parents' house without money in 1881 and was supported by his brother Theo in the Hague.

After reconciliation with his family, he began to achieve peasant portraits But in 1885 his father died surprisingly and Vincent van Gogh decided to move and work there ,

In the course of his further studies, he met personalities from the art scene such as Paul Gauguin . Despite his outstanding works, he met with difficulties in selling them. Vincent van Gogh fell into a horny anger and found it in alcohol. In 1888 he left Paris and moved to the south of France to settle down in Arles .

His declared goal was to found artist colony

After only a short time there was such violent clashes between the two that van Gogh, armed with a knife, started on his boyfriend. He then cut off his own ear and separated from him. For fear of losing the mind, he volunteered in 1889 to a nervous hospital in St Rémy , where he suffered from hallucinations.

During his one -year stay, the Dutch created about 160 oil paintings and drawings. In 1890 van Gogh accepted an invitation from his friend Camille Pissarro to come to Auvers-sur-Oise, northwest of Paris. Although he also went into treatment here, his state of mind hardly improved.

During an extensive walk at Auvers, van Gogh injured himself with a pistol. Although he still came home on his own, he died two days later, on July 29, 1890 . Despite everything, his short time in Auvers is one of his most creative creative phase.

impetus for modernity during his lifetime , but he was hardly recognized as a painter. Following his artistic conviction, he preferred a life in poverty and isolation. From 1880, when he increasingly fell into madness, he created his most important works.

Initially still contemporary with his own style, he laid the foundation for expressionism . His extensive correspondence not only provides information about his picturesque work, but is also of literary rank.

Vincent Willem van Gogh died at the age of only 37 and created over 750 paintings and 1600 drawings .

Vincent van Gogh - life and work in detail

1853-1863: childhood

Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in the Brabant town of Groot-Zundert as the son of Theodorus van Gogh and his wife Anna Cornelia Carbentus. His father was a pastor of the reformed church in the village. The “Children Van Gogh” would have grew up in a protected environment near the presbytery.

Family man Theodorus was not a strict Christian, he held on the Groninger direction - a rather moderate movement within the reformed church.

Although Vincent spent his whole life as a "oldest child", a child was born in front of him. Exactly a year before his birth, mother Anna gave birth to a child for the first time. The baby, a boy, was born dead. The name Vincent van Gogh stands on his tombstone in the small cemetery of Zundert. Some psychologists do not rule out the fact that Vincent was born on the day of his older brother's death was a decisive factor for his development.

To what extent the event has threw a shadow on family life cannot be determined. It is also unclear whether Vincent felt the event as a load on his shoulders. When his brother Theo became the father of a son and his child also called Vincent, he wrote to his mother in a letter:

... the pleasure of seeing Theo again and getting to know my new namesake. " (Letter 639)

He may have referred to his older, deceased brother, but that has not been proven.

Vincent van Gogh had three sisters (Anna, Willemien and Elisabeth) and two brothers (Theo and Cor).

1864-1869: school and early talent for drawing

Vincent van Gogh was sent to a boarding school in Zevenbergen in October 1864, where he remained until 1866. Afterwards he attended the higher community school in Tilburg until March 1868 and, after the first year, brought home a commendable certificate. However, why he left school in the middle of the second year remains unknown. Vincent van Gogh then returned to his parents until July 1869.

At a young age, he did not make very great interest in art , although he had already discovered drawing His father, on the other hand, disagreed and advised him to concentrate on his school education because he only saw his son's talent as a waste of time.

Years later, his birthplace Groot-Zundert found a place in his works. Vincent van Gogh initially attended a boarding school where he not only learned languages ​​such as French, English and German, but also expanded his character skills.

1869-1876 training as an art dealer

At the age of 16, van Gogh went to the Hague to the Hague branch of the French art and print dealer Goupil & Cie. to work. His uncle was a co -partner of the company.

Although van Gogh had broken off his school career, he was employed by his uncle as an apprentice. During his six -year work in the Haag (1869–1873) and London (1873–1875), the young van Gogh was reluctant to deal with customers, but he revealed a deep passion and expertise for art.

In 1872, Vincent's younger brother Theo van Gogh joined Goupil & Cie in Brussels. During this time, Vincent began writing letters to his brother Theo. From then on he would do that all his life. The brothers swore to each other, never to differ. The oldest preserved letter from Vincent to Theo comes from September 29, 1872. A total of 820 letters have been preserved, of which van Gogh 658 addressed his brother Theo.

Vincent also worked for some time in the branches of the art trade in Paris and London. In the London branch, he found employment in the graphics department, which was, however, free of customer transport. There he felt lonely and bad. It is believed that he fell in love with his landlady during his stay, even though she was already engaged.

During his summer stay with his parents in 1874, it was noticed that he had lost significantly in weight and made a depressed impression. His dissatisfaction during this time can be found in many of the drawings that the artist made in England during his time. In the latter city, he fell in love with his landlady's daughter. A love that was not returned and that led Vincent to go through a depressive phase.

Thanks to his work for the art trade, van Gogh has developed a lot of knowledge about the visual art. Something that would benefit him later in life. During his stay in Paris, Vincent saw the peasant scenes of the artist Jean-François Millet and realistic landscape scenes by Jules Breton . This work left a deep impression on Van Gogh, who later drew and painted many peasant scenes.

His work The Potato Eaters is the best known example.

1876-1879: Activities as auxiliary teacher and preacher

In the second half of 1875 he finally turned religion , read only the Bible and religious edification books and lost interest in his work. After he had gone home for Christmas 1875 without permission, the termination for the coming April was suggested.

On April 1, 1876, the employment relationship in London was finally dissolved. For a short time, Vincent van Gogh remained in England, where he found a job as an unpaid auxiliary teacher in Ramsgate in Kent and Iselworth through a job advertisement in the newspaper.

Vincent van Gogh returned to Brabant shortly afterwards and had the desire to become a cleric. However, his family was against it and his father was able to convince him to work in a bookstore in Dordrecht instead (January-May 1877).

He then attended preparatory classes for studying theology in Amsterdam (May 1877-1878). But Latin and ancient Greek caused him difficulties. In August 1878 he took part in a seminar for lay preachers in Brussels. After three months, however, he was classified as unsuitable because he probably did not show enough discipline in class.

Between February and July 1879, Vincent van Gogh worked for six months as a preacher in the Borinage. He read from the Bible and stopped religious hours, lived in a simple hut, exchanged his clothes against cheaper ones and took care of the sick and injured in the coal mines. However, he had difficulty communicating with the locals because he hardly understood their dialect and they could not follow his French prayers.

In July 1879, the board of the Flemish School decided to end its trial period and not stop van Gogh. His family was very disappointed with this renewed failure.

1880-1881: turn to art-first walking attempts as a draftsman

In the fall of 1880 Vincent van Gogh made the decision to become an artist. At that time he was already 27 years old. In order to overcome his initial difficulties, he used books such as Armand-Théophile Cassagnes "Guide de L'Alphabet du Dessin" (1880) and Charles Bargues "Exercices Au Fusain" as well as drawings by Millet to trace or copy them.

Unfortunately, only a few of his first drawings have been preserved because van Gogh destroyed her herself. However, the material still available shows its tedious attempts to grasp objects and people through outline lines.

In October 1880, Vincent van Gogh moved to Brussels, where he lived until April 1881. From 1881 to 1885 he created his early work in the Netherlands, which was shaped by his love for the simple life of farmers and workers. Although he was enrolled at the academy, he rarely visited her. Anthon van Rappard (1858–1892) became his most important caregiver in artistic questions.

In April 1881, van Gogh returned to Etten (Nordbrabant) and remained until December 1881. Here he followed Millet's traces and drew working farmers. In the summer he fell in love with his widowed cousin Kee Vos, who had come to visit. Although she dismissed him, Van Gogh persistently continued his advertising, which led to a conflict with his parents and relatives.

Since the relationship between Vincent and his family was already tense, the dispute ended shortly after Christmas 1881. Vincent van Gogh had refused to visit the Christmas fair, which made his break with faith.

1881-1883: The Hague: Anton Mauve and Sien

Before moving, Vincent van Gogh had already spent four weeks with his brother-in-law, the painter of the Hague School Anton Mauve (1838-1888) (November/December 1881). There he was introduced to watercolor and oil painting and began with drawings of mining workers and urban motifs.

He collected newspaper clippings with representations of coal workers and found huts in the area that reminded him of paintings by Jules Dupré (1811-1889) and the Barbizon painters. It was also here where he first portrayed landscapes in oil.

Unfortunately, his unexpected relationship with Clasina Hoornik, called Sien (1850-1904), a occasional prostitute and single model, led to a break with Anton Mauve. For his work "Sorrow" he was sitting (around April 10, 1882). In autumn 1883 Vincent van Gogh separated from Sien.

1883-1884: Vincent van Gogh in Drenthe and Nuenen

In September 1883 he moved to the province of Drenthe in the north of the Netherlands, where he inspiring motifs in the picturesque Heide and moor landscape . At the same time, he had hope that Theo would turn away from the art trade and follow him. When this expectation did not meet, he returned to his parents in Nuenen in December 1883, where he was only received half -heartedly.

In nuen he created more than 180 paintings, including "the potato eaters" (see above). Weber and their "monstrous" looms soon fascinated him

"Weide with Weber" (1884, oil on canvas, 68.3 x 84.2 cm, Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo) is a typical work from this phase. It shows the cramped interior and the huge machine, which almost seems to devour the weaver.

1885: Antwerp

In November 1885, Vincent van Gogh decided to stay in Antwerp for three months. The reason for this was simple: in the Antwerp Academy, he found free models and heated rooms. However, he always had to deal with financial problems, which is why he reduced his diet to a minimum - this led to physical complaints.

Nevertheless, van Gogh discovered a new passion in Antwerp: Japanese color wood cuts . These had a significant influence on his later work.

1886-1887: Back to France, Paris

In March 1886, Vincent van Gogh went to Paris and lived there with his brother Theo. During this time, Vincent van Gogh dipped into French Impressionism and then turned to pointillism . For a period of two years until February 1888, the simple farmhouses and huts disappeared from his canvases and he began to deal with the modern big city to deal with its residents and still lifes.

During his stay in Paris, Vincent van Gogh took courses in the Fernand Cormon (1845–1926), where he Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , Paul Signac , Louis Anquetin , Paul Gauguin and Emile Bernard . In 1887, Vincent van Gogh organized two joint exhibitions in restaurants and a presentation of pictures in the shop window of the color retailer and art lover Père Tanguy .

He devoted another show to the Ukiyo-e , the Japanese color wood cuts, in the Café Le Tambourin. Vincent van Gogh was for a short time with the owner Agostina Segatori.

In November 1887 he met Paul Gauguin, who had just returned from Martinique. Vincent van Gogh estimated the art of Gauguin and admired his adventurous life. Thanks to the support of his brother Theo, who initiated important sales for Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh was also able to attract Gauguin's interest.

1888-1889: southern France, Arles

On February 20, 1888, Vincent van Gogh went on a trip to Arles, into the bright landscape of the south of France. There he was touched by the new colors and lights that he met in nature. In the French city of Arles, van Gogh not only created many paintings, he also wrote many honest letters, especially to his brother Theo, who played an important role in his life.

Theo believed in his brother and often sent Vincent money. The trip to Arles was also paid for by Theo. The letters Vincent van Goghs form a kind of ongoing diary and provide an insight into the artist's thoughts and his ideas of art.

During his stay of 16 months, he created 187 paintings. In May 1888 he rented four rooms in a house on Place Lamartine, which he wanted to set up as the "studio of the south ".

He kept inviting his friends Paul Gauguin and Emil Bernard to work together. From October 23 to December 23, 1888, the "studio of the south" became a reality. However, Vincent van Gogh did not understand that Gauguin pursued a completely different art philosophy than himself.

Since he saw Gauguin as his teacher and was still not ready to give up his form of Plein-Air painting , the "studio of the south" in Vincent's nervous breakdown and Paul Gauguin's wordless departure ended.

On December 23, 1888, there was a violent argument between the confused Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, after which Vincent almost completely cut off. He went into a brothel and gave it to a girl named Rachel with the words: "You will remember my, I will tell you" .

The police found Vincent pass out the next morning and weakened by the high blood loss. He was then taken to the local hospital.
Paul Gauguin tacitly left on December 25, 1888 and informed Vincent's brother Theo by telegram.

When Theo arrived in Arles on Christmas morning, he learned that Vincent had showed signs of intellectual confusion for days. After two weeks, Vincent was released from the hospital, but the head connected. In February 1889 he suffered a new seizure and had to spend several days in the hospital.

As a result, the painter was forced due to a petition of the citizens of Arles until April 1889.

1889-1890: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and first sale of a work

In 1889 Vincent van Gogh decided to be instructed to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole nerve hospital in Saint-Rémy, where the doctors diagnosed epilepsy. In the following months, namely in May and June, he created some of his most impressive landscapes, including the "Schwertlilien" (May 10, 1889), the "Sternnacht" (June 17/18, 1889) and the "Cypress" (June 25, 1889).

In the summer of the same year, van Gogh suffered a serious attack in which he swallowed poisonous colors, which can be interpreted as a possible attempted suicide.

From September 1889 to April 1890 he stayed in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and was supported by Theo van Gogh, who presented avant-garde art exhibitions The painting "The Red Vineyards of Arles" was sold and is the only documented sale during the artist's lifetime.

1890: Van Gogh's last days in Auvers-sur-Oise

On May 17th of 1890, Vincent van Gogh went to Paris, where he lingered with his brother and his family for three days. The family situation was tense because Theo was weakened due to illness and his work with his employer had conflicts.

On May 20, van Gogh moved to Auvers-sur-Oise , which was about 30 km from Paris. There he was looked after by the art -loving doctor and homeopath Paul Gachet, who campaigned for Van Gogh's mental state.

During the last ten weeks of his life, van Gogh focused on painting "pretty middle -class country houses" , which he liked almost as well as the old huts of the Borinage, which he romantized. Van Gogh felt comfortable in the rural environment and his doctor, Dr. Gachet, advised him to concentrate on painting rather than on his illness during this time.

Within 70 days he created 75 pictures and 60 drawings in Auvers-sur-Oise, some of which are among the most important of his oeuvre. The artist himself wrote about these works:

I am almost certain that I have expressed in these screens, which I cannot express in words, namely how healthy and heart -strengthening I find the country. ”

On July 27, 1890, van Gogh either shot into the chest or stomach in a field and returned to the inn seriously injured. The involvement of doctors refrained from removing the ball. Vincent van Gogh succumbed to his injuries on July 29, 1890.

His last words should have been:

The sadness will take forever. "

Two days later, van Gogh succumbed to sepsis. His brother Theo died of syphilis in the same year. The two brothers were buried side by side in the cemetery of Auvers.

The artist left a total of around 900 paintings and 900 drawings.

Disease and plagued spirit

In France, van Gogh artistically experienced a very good time, it went less well for the artist himself. He went through depressive phases and had to be instructed in a psychiatric institution for one year. The artist himself wrote the following about his condition:

I cannot describe exactly how it is what I have; Sometimes it is terrible fears without a clear cause or it is a feeling of emptiness and fatigue in the head. […] Every day I take the medicine that the unforgettable thickens prescribes for suicide. It consists of a glass of wine, a piece of bread and cheese and a tobacco pipe. " [Letter 764 in the scientific edition]

In the past 120 years, many psychiatrists have examined the health status of the painter Post Mortem. However, whether there is a connection between Van Gogh's art and madness remains a question that is difficult to answer. In a letter to Van Gogh's sister Willemien, his brother Theo once wrote:

"It is as if two people are in him, one wonderfully gifted, fine and gentle; the other self -loving and hard."

Vincent van Gogh's unique painting style

Van Gogh was a master of color and brush stroke , whose works of art were often influenced by his emotions and its interior. He also experimented with various techniques such as pointillism and the use of unusual colors.

But van Gogh was not only a painter, he also created drawings and sketches that document his artistic development and his world of thoughts. His work is an important contribution to art history and has had a lasting influence on the art world.

While Vincent was mentally ill, he started painting faster and faster. In his own words to "the quick offense of things in modern life" . The well -known art historian Ernst H. Gombrich once wrote about Van Gogh's painting style:

He experimented with bright, pure colors that he did not mix on his palette, but put directly on the screen in small lines or points and trusted the viewer's eye as a whole. […] Van Gogh supported the technique of point and strip painting, which, however, turned out to be something completely different under his hand than the impressionists had intended. Because van Gogh not only used the individual brush strokes to break the color, but also to convey his own intensive feelings. In one of his letters from Arles, he describes his enthusiasm when "the emotions are often so strong that I work without knowing it ... and the strokes then follow with a coherence like the words in a speech or in a letter." ""

The artist was not concerned with portraying things exactly as they appeared to him. Van Gogh enlarged and chose his own colors.

Gombrich:

He used colors and shapes to express what he felt about the things he painted and what he wanted to convey to others. He didn't care much about what he called "stereoscopic reality", that is, the photographically precise "portrait" of nature. He surpassed the appearance of things when it served its purpose and even changed it. "

A look at the most important works by Vincent van Gogh

The Dutch artist and draftsman created almost 900 works of art and over 1,000 drawings with which he laid the basics of modern painting. In his lifetime, however, Vincent van Gogh achieved hardly any economic success with his pictures. He was only able to sell a few works, including the painting "The Red Weinberg" .

The masterpieces of Vincent van Gogh only reached record prices for auctions after his death and are still extremely sought -after collector's pieces. His last self -portrait, which he completed in 1889, was auctioned, for example, for impressive $ 71 million.

The following 10 paintings are among the most famous and sought -after work by Vincent van Gogh:

"Sternnacht" (1889)

Vincent van Gogh's star night is considered one of the most famous paintings in western art and is a dazzling work in oil on canvas that is currently hanging in the MoMA.

It was painted in 1889 and shows the look of the post-impressionist painter from his sanatorium room (with a fictional village below) in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. While van Gogh created several paintings of this special view, The Starry Night is the only night. It is considered an opus magnum of the artist - his masterpiece.

"Sunflowers" (1888)

The "twelve sunflowers in a vase" is undoubtedly one of the most iconic work by Vincent van Gogh and impressively embodies the different phases of his artistic work. Van Gogh created this remarkable painting in connection with several other representations of sunflowers, which he regarded as part of his vision to found a painting colony - a community of artists who were supposed to settle in the picturesque Provence.

He had this idea in mind to inspire his painting colleagues Émile Bernard and Paul Gauguin and win it for his artistic ambitions immediately after he had completed his masterpiece.

In a moving letter to his brother Theo, who always played a leading role in Van Gogh's life, the artist expressed his ambitious plans:

"In the hope that I will live with Gauguin in our own studio, I want to make a number of pictures for it. Nothing but little sunflowers."

These words not only testify to his tireless devotion to art, but also reveal his deep longings for community and creative development. He was ready to work from sunrise to evening, without any significant interruptions, always with a clear goal: to put the transience of the flowers into the spotlight. Since they can wither quickly and ask for immediate attention, mirrors t his workload the urgency with which he tried to capture this fleeting moment.

Van Gogh's choice of a gentle blue background is particularly noteworthy, which serves as a kind of stage for the bright yellow sunflowers. This background continues to highlight the living colors and gives the work an additional dimension of emotional expression. At the same time, the slow change of the once strong yellow flowers illustrates the transience and the inevitable course of nature into a more brownish tone - creating a central topic in van Goghs.

"The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles" (1888)

Café Terrace is an oil painting from 1888 by the famous Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh . The Cafe Terrace is often mentioned at the Place du Forum.

When it was originally issued in 1891, it was entitled Coffeehouse at Night.

"The night café on the Place Lamartine in Arles" (1888)

Vincent van Gogh painted his masterpiece "Das Nachtkafé" in Arles in September 1888. This significant painting shows the interior of a café, which is characterized by strong, high -contrast colors - the ceiling is green, the walls red and the floor glows yellow. Five guests are distributed at tables, while a waiter faces the viewer in the light coat.

In a humorous letter to his brother Theo, van Gogh mentioned that he vowed Madame Ginoux for her money claims by portraying her café. The work is manufactured on a primed canvas and offers a slightly increased perspective on what is happening due to its perspective.

"Swords" (1889)

Another famous oil painting by the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh , painted in May 1889. This is one of several works in a series that was also created in the Saint Paul-de-Mausole institution in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

The beautiful work was created just a year before Van Gogh's death in 1890. The swords he painted were in the hospital garden, and it was assumed that the style of this series was influenced by Japanese Ukiyo-E-woodcut cuts, as can be seen in many by van Goghs.

The painting is loved because of its softness and lightness and is "full of air and life", as Van Gogh's brother Theo described.

Today the work can be seen in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California.

"Sternnacht over the Rhone" (1888)

Sternnacht over the Rhone (September 1888) was one of three paintings that were created in the same month and contained the night sky and stars as fundamental symbolic elements. He also painted Cafe Terrace at Night and a portrait of his friend Eugene Boch, which was perhaps the most symbolic of the three.

Sternnacht over the Rhone was painted at one point on the banks of the river, which was only one or two minutes' walk from the yellow house on Place Lamartine, which Van Gogh rented at the time. The night sky and the nightly lighting effects delivered the topic for some of its more famous paintings, including The Starry Night, the most famous painting by Van Gogh with night stars.

Van Gogh fascinated the challenge of painting at night. The viewpoint chosen by him for "Sternnacht over the Rhone" enabled him to capture the reflections of the gas lighting in Arles over the blue shimmering water of the Rhone. In the foreground, two lovers walk on the banks of the river.

Here his stars shine with a light that shines from the dark, blue and velvety night sky. On the banks of the Rhone, houses also radiate a light that contributes in the water against mirrors t and to the mysterious atmosphere of the painting.

"Wheat field with cypresses" (1889)

Ah, the clouds! These impressive collections of countless water droplets, masterfully captured by the Dutch painter. Anyone who admires the formations or viewed the spectacle of mammatus clouds during thunderstorms recognizes an artist in Van Gogh with a pronounced sense of atmospheric interplay.

In contrast to the dramatic storm clouds, his representations radiate a summer freshness. The wind, which blows dynamically through landscape and trees, gives the picture a grace and depth, while the view flies over hilly rocks and delicate flowers.

With his details, Vans Gogh invites you to put himself in a sunny southern scenario. In a letter to his brother Theo, he described the picture as "cypresses with wheat earnings and a blue sky" . The composition captivated him so much that he created three versions. This longing for nature and exploring her secrets makes his work unforgettable - an occasion to deal with the moving life of the artist himself.

"Almond tree in bloom (almond blossoms)" (1890)

This well-known painting in Japanese style was created as part of a series of pictures in a creative phase of Van Gogh, in which the artist was increasingly looking for sense ( 1888 to 1890 in Arles and Saint-Rémy).

At that time, van Gogh wrote numerous letters to his sister, in which he described his enthusiasm for the flowering trees. He expressed this fascination in many of his paintings. A style emerged that has shaped Van Gogh sustainably. His work in this phase had a profound influence on Van Gogh's further life.

"Fishing boats on the beach of Les Saintes-Maries-de-La-Mer" (1888)

This maritime work of art by Vincent van Gogh unfolds a Serene scenery in which fishing boats gently rest on the banks of the picturesque village of Saintes-Maries-La-Mer in the Camargue. The lively colors that characterize van Gogh's distinctive, expressive characteristics come into their own in this harmonious composition.

The radiant blue of the sky and the sea elegantly merges with the warm earth tones of the sand and boats and thus creates an inviting atmosphere.

This post-impressionist masterpiece embodies the simplicity and grace of the daily life of the fishermen. "Fishing boats on the beach of Saintes-Maries" serves as an urgent testimony of van Gogh's extraordinary artistic talent as well as his deep connection to nature and the picturesque Mediterranean landscapes that once inspired him.

"The Church in Auvers-sur-Oise" (1890)

The time of Vincent van Gogh in the L'Uberge Ravoux in Auvers-sur-Oise was an exceptionally productive creative phase. In just seventy days, he created about eighty works, including some of his most famous paintings with impressive cypress. The place, just thirty kilometers from Paris, was important for Van Gogh because he visited Paul-Ferdinand Gachet

Gachet had close connections to contemporary artists in Paris and was considered a suitable contact for his brother Theo to treat Van Gogh's mental challenges. Tragically, he could not prevent the 37-year-old from dying from a gunshot wound on July 29, 1890. Van Gogh's last work is characterized by intensive colors and a profound emotional expressiveness, which paved the way for movements such as the Fauves and Expressionism .

This early Gothic church with its Romanesque chapels is one of the last motifs that Vincent van Gogh painted. It rises majestically in front of the empty, deep blue sky, not correctly presented, but as an independent work of art. Strategically placed on a fork in the road, the church embodies the artist's inner tornness and invites the viewer to immerse yourself in its history.

Van Gogh's life: a journey through his everyday life and his world of thought

Van Gogh was a man who was constantly looking for himself and his destiny. His journey through life was characterized by ups and downs, by successes and defeats.

He was an artist who expressed his emotions and thoughts in his works and thus created a new way of art. His life was a constant challenge, but he never got completely down and believed in his art until the end. Today is

Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous artists in the world and his works are unforgettable.

Van Gogh's ear

Research by TNS NIPO in 2010 showed that the artist is known to the Dutch public today primarily because of his separated ear. When asked "What do you think about when you think of the painter Vincent van Gogh?" called no less than fifty percent of the respondents the cut ear. In addition, "painters" and "sunflowers" high scores.

For a long time one thought that the artist did not cut his whole ear, just the earlobe. Recently, however, a note from Dr. Felix Rey, the doctor who treated van Gogh on the ear, in the archive of the author Irving Stone. In 1930 he made two sketches at the request of an author who worked on a book about the artist and wrote:

The ear was cut along the dotted line with the razor. "

This shows that Vincent van Gogh actually cut off his entire ear. It was also argued that Van Gogh did not cut his ear himself, but that the French painter Paul Gauguin did so during a dispute.

Gauguin, who lived with Van Gogh in Arles for some time, wrote in his biography that the entire ear was cut off. Others, including the painter Signac and Brother Theo's widow, reported that it was only the lichen, so that there were no obstacles.

Posthumous success story

The artist is said to have once given this appropriate assessment:

I can't help that my pictures cannot be sold. But there will be time because people realize that they are worth more than the money for color. ”

Johanna van Gogh-Bonger , the sister-in-law of Vincent van Gogh and widow of his brother Theo van Gogh, was a driving force in the promotion and popularization of the work of the Dutch artist. From 1901 she regularly ended pictures for solo exhibitions in Berlin, which were organized by Paul Cassirer (see Artinwords - Vincent van Gogh: Biography ).

The first major retrospective of the work took place in Amsterdam in 1905 and was soon followed by an important show in the Arnold gallery in Dresden.

For the young artist group of the bridge, this exhibition was the initial spark, which Heinrich Nauen, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Emil Nolde inspired to learn from van Gogh and to take over its dynamic brush strokes. In the following seven years, 68 exhibitions were discussed and admired at 68 exhibitions by artists and collectors.

Van Gogh was often not understood by his contemporaries during his lifetime and his works of art were mostly rejected. But today art lovers and connoisseurs know about the important role of his work in the development of modern art. Therefore, they are ready to pay high sums for his works.

100 years after his death, one of the seven sunflower pictures was auctioned for EUR 37 million.

Another prominent example of this is the auction of "Verger Avec Cyprès" as part of the Paul G. All-auction at Christie’s on November 9, 2022. The painting found a new owner for a proud $ 117,180,000 and broke through the $ 100 million mark (see FAZ: Paul G. All collection plays 1.5 billion ))

Ferdinand Avenarius expressed the continuing fascination in the magazine "Der Kunstwart" that Vincent van Gogh's painting exercised on young artists in Germany:

"Van Gogh is dead, but the Van Gogh people live. And how do they live!

In 1928 the first list of works of the painting Vincent van Goghs was published by the Dutch lawyer and art dealer Jacob-Baart de la Faille , which still serves as an important reference for researchers and art lovers to this day:

-> Vincent van Gogh: The Complete Works on Paper*