Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

Dutch painter

Vincent van Gogh was born as the eldest son of a vicar in Groot-Zundert in Noord-Brabant. After attending school in Zevenbergen Vincent worked at the art gallery Goupil & Co in The Hague. For this firm he worked at the offices in London and Paris.

Borinage

In 1876 Van Gogh resigned and became a preacher in Ramsgate and Isleworth for a short while, after which he returned to The Nertherlands and accepted a job at the bookshop "Blussé & Van Braam" in Dordrecht.
Following a short religious study in Amsterdam and Brussels Vincent moved to the Borinage to work as a preacher. Soon he was fired. He came back to Holland and began to paint.

The Hague

For two years Vincent lived and painted in The Hague. He learned a lot from his nephew, the artist Mauve, but soon escaped the city. In Drente (and later Nuenen) he painted farmers and the countryside. In this period he made his famous painting "The Potato Eaters".

France

After a short stay in Antwerp Van Gogh moved to France in 1885. In France his palette gradually changed to brighter colours. In Arles Vincent met and painted with Gauguin. Soon the two artists were arguing and Gauguin left him.
Vincent was hospitalised in the cloister of Saint-Rémy for his mental health. His brother Theo suggested Vincent to go to the doctor and art lover Gachet in Auvers-sur-Oise. Cachet was very interested and dedicated to Vincent.

Auvers

Vincent van Gogh painted many portraits and landscapes at Auvers, many of them with heavy brushstrokes and very colourful. But at the age of 37 Vincent committed suicide by using a pistol.

Letters to brother Theo

Six months later his brother Theo died. Over the years Theo kept all the letters he received from his brother Vincent. This correspondence provides a detailed view on the live and work of the artist.