Vincent William Van Gogh

Vincent Willem Van Gogh - a name you could have heard at least a few times before. You might think he would have been just an ordinary artist, one that paints and sells, but the story behind the canvas is so much more than just strokes of paint - a fascinating story, and a sad one as well. 

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter, born on March 30th 1853. As a young man, he worked as an art dealer, a job he didn’t like very much. He was then transferred to London, where isolation led to a period of deep depression. Seeking purpose, he turned to Christianity and became a missionary in Southern Belgium, but after being dismissed by the Church, his depression only worsened.

It’s from now on, in 1880, that he started painting, his mission being to ‘console humanity through art’. His early art reflected his sadness, using dark, grey tones. But after moving to Paris in 1886, his paintings became brighter in colour, symbolising his increased happiness. He created masterpieces such as Sunflowers and collaborated with avant-garde artists such as Paul Gauguin.

However, his friendship with Gauguin quickly ended when they had a fight and he cut part of his ear off. He later admitted himself to a psychiatric hospital, where he painted the famous painting The Starry Night.

Despite his efforts and struggles, Van Gogh’s paintings remained unrecognised during his lifetime. In 1890, at 37 years old, he tragically ended his life, his last words being “la tristesse durera toujours”, meaning “sadness will last forever.” Only after his death did his work become one of the most recognised and powerful masterpieces.

Next time you have a look at one of his paintings, remember this incredible story that brought it to life.