Vincent van Gogh
Dutch·1853–1890
Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) created nearly 2,100 artworks in just over a decade, despite selling only one painting during his lifetime. The Dutch artist developed his bold, expressive style while living in France, where swirling brushstrokes and vivid colors became his signature. His subjects ranged from sunflowers and starry nights to self-portraits and peasant life. Works like The Starry Night and Sunflowers now rank among the most recognized images in Western art. His thick impasto technique and emotional intensity anticipated Expressionism.
Van Gogh came to painting late, starting seriously at age 27 after failed careers in art dealing and ministry. His brother Theo, an art dealer, provided crucial financial and emotional support throughout his career. Time spent in Arles, southern France, proved intensely productive but marked by mental health struggles, including the famous incident where he severed part of his ear. He died at 37 from a self-inflicted gunshot. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam holds the world's largest collection of his work, while major pieces hang in the Museum of Modern Art and Musee d'Orsay.
