If only a few artist names had to be remembered, it is highly likely that Vincent van Gogh’s name would consistently come up. And for good reason: both his tumultuous life and his dazzling work leave an indelible mark on us!
Vincent Willem van Gogh is born in Groot-Zundert. He is the eldest son of Reverend Théodorus van Gogh and Anna Cornelia van Gogh-Carbentus. He is followed by his siblings Anna (1855), Théo (1857), Elisabeth (1859), Willemien (1862), and Cor (1867).
Through his family, he is employed at the Goupil & Cie art gallery in The Hague, before being transferred to its branches in Paris and London.
After being dismissed from Goupil & Cie, he works as a schoolteacher and assistant preacher in England. Returning to the Netherlands, he works in a bookstore and later studies theology in Amsterdam.
He abandons his studies and is accepted for a three-month trial period in an evangelist training in Laeken (near Brussels). After being denied permanent admission, he goes to the Borinage to dedicate himself to evangelizing coal miners.
Starting on February 1, he is appointed lay preacher for six months in Wasmes, but this appointment is not renewed. He moves to Cuesmes, where he works (voluntarily) as a preacher. His relationship with his family deteriorates, he neglects himself, and falls into depression.
On Théo's advice, Vincent decides to become an artist. He copies prints after Jean-François Millet and illustrations from Charles Bargue's Drawing Course. He continues this activity when he moves to Brussels in October and attends drawing classes at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
Théo is appointed director of the Paris branch of Goupil & Cie on Boulevard Montmartre and now supports Vincent financially. In exchange, Vincent sends his works to Théo. Van Gogh experiments with various graphic materials and begins painting. He depicts peasant life in countless studies. The Potato Eaters is his first major figure study.
After a brief period at the academy in Antwerp, Vincent moves to Paris in March 1886, where he stays with Théo and trains for several months in the studio of Fernand Cormon. The discovery of Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist works and Japanese prints radically transforms his use of color and painting style.
In February, Van Gogh moves to Arles in search of "air and light." His painting style reaches its full maturity. In October, Paul Gauguin joins him and stays for several weeks at the Yellow House. Their differing personalities and artistic visions create tensions. At the end of December, Van Gogh has his first breakdown; in a fit of madness, he cuts off a part of his ear.
After several crises, Van Gogh is committed to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum near Saint-Rémy. During his moments of clarity, he continues painting and drawing. His style becomes more rhythmic and vibrant, and his palette softens.
In May, he moves to Auvers-sur-Oise near Paris, where he embarks on new stylistic and chromatic experiments. On July 27, he shoots himself in the chest. Two days later, he succumbs to his wounds, with Théo by his side. He is buried in Auvers.
