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Vincent Van Gogh – Short Biography
Van Gogh decided to become a painter between 1860 and 1880 after he had experienced two tragic romances and unsuccessful jobs as an art salesman, bookshop clerk and preacher. After being dismissed as preacher in a Belgian mining region he decided staying in the country to study art, convinced that creating beauty was the key to happiness. Vincent’s early Dutch period’s creations are sharply lit, sombre-toned genre works of which "The Potato Eaters" (1885) is the most renowned. In 1885 Vincent moved to Antwerp. It was in this city where Vincent van Gogh discovered the paintings of Peter Paul Rubens and purchased an extensive collection of Japanese prints. One year later Vincent travelled to Paris where he joined Théo, his brother and manager of Goupil's gallery. During his stay in Paris Vincent studied with Cormon and inevitably met Gauguin, Monet and Pissarro. He started to lighten his extremely dark palette and began painting using the impressionists’ short brushstrokes. Van Gogh’s nervousness and lack of confidence made him an extremely difficult companion and around-the-clock discussions combined with creating art during the day seriously damaged his health. Vincent decided to go to Arles in southern France hoping his companions would follow his footsteps and help him to establish an art school. Paul Gauguin did join Vincent but the result was disastrous. During an epileptic haze, Vincent pursued his companion armed with a razorblade. Gauguin managed to stop him but he ended up removing a part of his ear lobe with the sharp blade. Since this weird event Vincent began to alternate between mental states lucidity and madness. He was admitted to the Saint-Remy asylum for treatment. In 1890 by May, Van Gogh’s health seemed to have improved and under Dr. Gachet’s supervision, he went to stay in Auvers-sur-Oise. Two months later Vincent van Gogh committed suicide by shooting himself. He had sold only one painting during his short career! The inimitable fusion of content and form invented by Van Gogh is emotional, powerful, lyrically rhythmic, dramatic and imaginative. The Dutch painter’s works were heavily influenced by his effort explaining either the struggle against insanity or trying to comprehend man and nature’s spiritual essence. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Portrait painting specialist Stuart White advises ‘Portraiture Articles and News’ for comprehensive information on world famous art painters. |
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