From financial struggles to his failing mental health, Van Gogh faced many personal challenges during his career.
Today, Van Gogh is known for the distinctive style of his popular paintings.
However, Van Gogh’s work did not always feature this familiar aesthetic.
“Self-Portrait” (1887) (Photo:The Art Institute of ChicagoviaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Instead, it was shaped over time, evolving with each phase of his short life.
Prior to becoming an artist, Van Gogh explored a number of possible career paths.
Inspired byRealism, he became a peasant painter, producing gritty depictions of life in the countryside.
Left: “The Cottage” (1885) (Photo:Google Arts & CultureviaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)Right: “Thatched Cottages at Cordeville” (1890) (Photo viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
It is here that he also developed his signaturebrushwork.
Without that, youd be bound to get utterly numbed.
He decided to relocate once againthis time toArles, an idyllic city in the south of France.
A later letter from Vincent Van Gogh to John Peter Russell showing a figure inspired by Realist artist Millet (1888) (Photo:Solomon R. Guggenheim FoundationviaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
However, their working relationship was short-lived.
After a string of quarrels and the contrasting intensity of their two personalities, Gauguin decided to move out.
This prompted the increasingly mentally unstable Van Gogh to cut off part of his own ear with a knife.
“The Potato Eaters” (1885) (Photo:Google Arts & CultureviaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Your paintings are well placed and look very well, Theo told Vincent about his work in Paris.
Many people came up to ask me to give you their compliments.
Gauguin said that your paintings are the key to the exhibition.
“View of Paris from Montmartre” (1886) (Photo viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Shortly after this success, Van Gogh left the hospital and moved to Auvers-sur-Oise, a suburb of Paris.
On July 27, 1890, Van Gogh shot himself in awheat fieldthe setting of his hauntingfinal painting.
He died two days later.
“Café Terrace at Night” (1888) (Photo viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Legacy
A few decades after Van Gogh’s death, his850 paintings and 1,300 drawingsreached international acclaim.
“The Yellow House” (1888) (Photo:Google Arts & CultureviaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
“Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear” (1889) (Photo:WebMuseumviaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
“The Starry Night” (1889) (Photo:Google Arts & CultureviaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
“Wheatfield with Crows” (1890) (Photo:Google Arts & CultureviaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
