Vincent van Gogh, who treated color as the captain symbol of expression, was born in 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Holland. The son of a pastor, brought up in a religious and cultured atmosphere, Vincent was highly emotional and lacked self-confidence. His drawings and oil painting of the Post-Impressionist style are part of the best known in the world and are most popular.
Between 1860 and 1880, van Gogh accomplished to quit his job of seven years as an art dealer, develop a passion for the Bible, become a teacher in a boy’s school and transfer to a poor mining district in Belgium. However, because his passion became an obsession he was dismissed from the missionary church, after giving away all his possessions. It was at this point, that he felt that art is his calling. His way to help humanity and moved to Brussels. The next ten years van Gogh created about 900 oil paintings and a similar number of drawings.
As a beginner artist, van Gogh used only dark and sad colors. However, he starts intergrading brighter colors to his paintings and adding new techniques to his unique and unmistakable style after he moved in with his brother, Theo, in 1881, and was introduces to others from the art community such as Paul Gauguin, and becomes familiar with impressionism style.
Van Gogh started to try out oil paints in 1882, and starts using oil paint in his artwork more frequently. Throughout that year and the next, Vincent van Gogh continues to improve his craft. During this period many of the paintings were oil painting portraits mostly of the local peasants.
In 1888 Van Gogh moved from Paris to Arles, France. He wished to fulfill his dream of creating an artist commune; a place where all members would support one another. It is clear that during this time his heart and mind felt at peace. And like the blossomed orchids in his oil paintings, van Gogh felt renewed and very productive in his artwork. A number of his famous seaside oil paintings landscapes are from this period.
During 1890 it would seem that van Gogh had a dramatic recovery, in his mental health; while he is under the care of his doctor he is continues his work, with the oil paintings, with remarkable energy: in two months van Gogh painted over 80 oil paintings.
However, in July 1890, van Gogh visits his brother and his family, and finds that Theo was experiencing economic difficulties, and concerns for his son’s health. Van Gogh, weighed down by his brother’s condition, continues working on his oil paintings though his mental condition is overwhelmed. On July 27 1890, Vincent van Gogh shoots himself in the chest while taking a walk. His attempt to suicide was unsuccessful. Van Gogh was found in his residence, but the bullet cannot be removed, and he dies early the next day. When his coffin was buried it was covered with his favorite flower: sunflowers.
Over the next decade, a few van Gogh exhibits took place. However, not until the Bernheim - Jeune show in 1901took place, that Vincent van Gogh was really recognized as a truly important painter. In the following years, his reputation and distinction grew exponentially. Today van Gogh’s oil paintings are among the most recognized works of art in the world. |
