The Passion of Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most famous painters of the 19th century.

Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, a small village in Holland.

His father was a preacher and his mother a housewife His father was a preacher and his mother a housewife. He was the oldest of six children. When he was 16, his Uncle gave him a job at an art gallery in Holland.

This is the art gallery where Vincent worked

When he was 20 he was sent to work in a gallery in London When he was 20 he was sent to work in a gallery in London. Vincent’s brother Theo was working for the same firm in Brussels.

of his work. This correspondence lasted his entire life. Theo Van Gogh Vincent wrote letters to his brother Theo which recorded his experiences, hopes, fears and the progress of his work. This correspondence lasted his entire life.

In London, Vincent was concerned about the enormous contrast between the lives of rich and poor people. He started to read the Bible and decided he wanted to help poor people.

His faith became more important to him and he began to preach sermons in the local church.

Old Church Tower at Neunen

By the age of 24, he decided to train as a priest By the age of 24, he decided to train as a priest. Returning to the Netherlands, he studied for three years.

Parsonage Garden at Neunen

The Vicarage at Neunen

After failing his church exams, he shared the life of poor workers in a desolate mining area. He slept on the straw trying to help them and telling them about God.

Man Digging

Vincent recorded the life of the miners through drawings he sent his brother Theo.

Farmers Planting Potatoes Nuenen

The compassion that Vincent felt for poor people as a preacher was now channeled into his art.

Wood Gatherers in the Snow

By the age of 27, Vincent had made the most important decision of his life, to become an artist. He studied with the artist Anton Mauve, his cousin. Theo provided money for art supplies.

In April 1885, Vincent painted his first major canvas, “The Potato- Eaters.” People disliked the dark colors, and found the worn faces of the peasants ugly. They were used to the romantic pictures of working people as young, happy and beautiful.

Vincent spent 2 years in Paris, living near the hill of Montmartre with his brother Theo, who had become an art dealer.

Moulin de Blute-fin, Montmartre, 1886

Vincent was influenced by the work of the Impressionist painters Vincent was influenced by the work of the Impressionist painters. Banks of the Seine

Vincent began to paint with clear, bright colors in order to express on canvas his “impression” of the light and colors of a scene.

Boulevard de Clichy

Vincent discovered Japanese prints in the 1860’s Vincent discovered Japanese prints in the 1860’s. The prints were colorful and had simple designs, with flat areas of color and strong outlines. His love of Japanese art helped the development of Vincent’s own personal style of painting.

Japonaiserie: the courtesan after Keisai Eisen”, 1887

“Portrait of Pere Tanguy”, 1887-88 Pere Tanguy sold paints and canvases and helped Vincent by storing hundreds of his pictures in an attic. Vincent painted Father Tanguy surrounded by his favorite Japanese prints.

Vincent moved to the south of France in Arles Vincent moved to the south of France in Arles. Here he painted beautiful landscapes with powerful brushstrokes and vibrant colors.

Entrance to Public Gardens in Arles

Wheatfields Near Arles

Vincent painted many of his greatest paintings in the summer of 1888 including “Sunflowers”. He began to experience fainting fits and stomach pains, but worked constantly, using up enormous quantities of paint that had to be sent to Arles from Paris. Theo continued to send his brother money to live on and buy supplies.

Sunflowers Fourteen Sunflowers

Night Cafe

The Café Terrace on the Place de Forum, Arles, at Night, 1888

Starry Night Over the Rhone, 1888

Vincent rented a yellow house in Arles hoping it would become a place where other artists would come and stay.

Vincent was pleased by his new home and did a series of paintings of the rooms.

Room at Arles

The artist, Paul Gauguin, came to live and paint with Vincent The artist, Paul Gauguin, came to live and paint with Vincent. By December 1888, there was considerable tension between Vincent and Gauguin. Vincent van Gogh Painting Sunflowers, 1888

In late December Vincent suffered a terrible mental crisis In late December Vincent suffered a terrible mental crisis. He was taken to the hospital in Arles, where he had a complete breakdown. Yet within a month he was painting again.

In his life Vincent painted many self-portraits In his life Vincent painted many self-portraits. He completed 40 pictures of himself in different moods; cheerful, dignified, or miserable.

Self Portrait at the Easel, 1887 Self Portrait, 1887 Self-Portrait painted in 1889, Vincent looks grim and determined. The blue colors signifies the somber mood. The paint in the background is full of swirling energy.

Self Portrait with Straw Hat, 1887 Self Portrait with Grey Felt Hat, 1887 Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe was painted in 1889. The artist looks sad but dignified. Red and green are complementary colors and cause a moment of visual shock when put together like this.

Portrait to Gauguin, 1888 Portrait with Palette, 1888

Self Portrait with Bandaged Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889 Self Portrait with Bandaged Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889 Ear and Pipe, 1889

In May 1889 Vincent transferred himself from Arles hospital to the nearby asylum at Saint-Remy. There between bouts of mental illness he continued to paint trees, fountains and flowers.

A Cornfield with Cypresses, 1889

Irises, 1889

time artist watched after In May 1890 Vincent moved near Paris. Dr. Paul Gachet, a psychiatrist and part time artist watched after Vincent.

Church at Auvers, 1890 Road with Cypress, 1890

The last two months of his life, he painted 70 canvases The last two months of his life, he painted 70 canvases. This final painting was a turbulent landscape, depicting vast fields under a dark tormented sky with flying black crows.

His work put an unbearable strain on his sanity His work put an unbearable strain on his sanity. At the age of 37 on July 27, 1890, Vincent went out into the fields and shot himself. He died two days later, in Theo’s arms. Theo died a few months later in 1891. They are buried side by side.

During his lifetime, he only sold one painting, The Red Vineyards at Arles, 1888.

After his death, Vincent’s works were noticed and admired After his death, Vincent’s works were noticed and admired. Many artists were influenced by his bold style. Van Gogh created over 800 oil paintings and 700 drawings during his short life.

We have selected Van Gogh’s painting, The Starry Night, 1889, to reproduce for Pageant of the Arts this year at McGaugh.

The End