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Famous for being one of the most significant post-impressionist artists, Vincent Van Gogh left a profound and lasting impact on the world of fine art. Though he was deemed a failure during his lifetime, over a century later, his works have transformed the way we experience and view modern art. Furthermore, his life and works continue to inspire countless emerging artists.
Despite the limited knowledge we have of his personal life, it's widely acknowledged that Van Gogh battled severe mental health disorders. These struggles not only influenced the emotional depth of his art but also contributed to the controversies surrounding his life, with some of his experiences being truly startling.
10. Becoming an Artist Wasn't His First Career Choice
Van Gogh’s father was a Protestant pastor, and the young artist had hoped to follow his father’s path. He studied theology in a church and was assigned as a missionary in the small, remote village of Borinage, located in the southwest of Belgium. With an idealized view of spirituality and a deeper understanding of Christianity, Van Gogh’s beliefs diverged from those of his father’s church, as he believed that true religion emerged from the lower classes. This led him to preach to the impoverished miners in the village.
Witnessing the dire circumstances of the villagers, Van Gogh gave away all his belongings and attempted to embody the teachings of Christ in order to capture the people’s attention. His radical behavior was noticed by an inspector from the Evangelization Council, who reported him to the church authorities, resulting in his dismissal after just two years in the mission. Following this, Van Gogh chose to pursue his passion for art, which often featured religious symbolism.
9. The Letters
Van Gogh was a deeply private individual, and much of his life would remain unknown if not for his letters, the sole remaining authentic record of his personal history. These letters offer an intimate look into his world. His brother Theo was his most ardent supporter, and after Van Gogh shifted his focus to art and writing following his expulsion from missionary work, he began writing letters to Theo in search of understanding as his mental health declined and his career prospects dimmed. The letters also revealed the growing tension within his family due to his failure to follow a conventional career path.
Spanning over 2,000 letters and roughly 240 sketches, these correspondences cover everything from his deepest reflections to his personal life. Around 950 of these letters were published in 1914 as a book.
8. Inspired by the East
Van Gogh sought inspiration from many artists and culturally affected pieces of artwork, taking a deep liking toward Asian art. At first, he paid no heed to the growing trend of Japanese art, but he decided to modernize his work after seeing its increasing impact. When he moved to Paris to share an apartment with his brother, they both worked on making a collection of Japanese prints, and Vincent’s interest in this form of art only chose to grow.
He started developing a keen eye toward Oriental art pieces, recognizing them as masterpieces equally great to western ones. The only real record stating how big this collection of prints was can be found in one of his letters, where he referred to them as “hundreds.”
7. Unrequited Love
The notion of a mysterious artistic partner often fascinates many, yet despite his brilliance as an artist, Van Gogh faced significant struggles in his romantic life. He had only one serious romantic relationship throughout his brief life. In his early years, he proposed to three women—seeking financial stability—but was rejected by all three.
His first serious romantic involvement was with a neighbor, with whom he had an intense and tumultuous relationship. They had planned to marry, but she tragically drank poison after facing disapproval from her family regarding the union.
In 1882, Van Gogh took in a pregnant prostitute named Sien Hoornik and her daughter, offering them shelter in his studio apartment. Their romantic relationship was met with strong disapproval from Van Gogh’s family. The affair lasted only 18 months, after which Vincent moved to Paris alone. There, he fell for Agostina Segatori, an Italian restaurant owner, but the relationship quickly faltered, ending shortly thereafter.
6. Plagued by Numerous Illnesses
One of the primary factors behind Van Gogh’s turbulent life and instability was the range of health disorders he faced, most of which were mental health-related and ran in his family. Even over a century after his death, the true nature of his mental health struggles remains a mystery. It wasn't until he reached the age of 30 that his condition deteriorated significantly.
The decline of Van Gogh’s mental health is documented in the letters he exchanged with his brother, Theo. A closer examination of these letters, along with the records from the Saint-Rémy asylum (where he was admitted), reveals that Van Gogh suffered from seizures, anxiety, insomnia, and hallucinations. He was thought to have been afflicted with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, epilepsy, self-mutilation (commonly and mistakenly referred to as 'Van Gogh syndrome'), and alcohol withdrawal.
5. The Mystery Surrounding the Fate of His Left Ear
One of the most infamous moments in Van Gogh’s life was the incident involving him cutting off his ear, though many of the details surrounding it have been exaggerated. In 1888, he rented a house in Arles, hoping to find a community of artists and reduce the burden on his brother. His good friend and fellow artist, Paul Gauguin, moved in with him, and the two worked closely together.
They lived and collaborated for two months, but tensions eventually mounted between them, and during a fit of rage, Van Gogh confronted Gauguin with a knife. Rather than harming Gauguin, he ended up cutting off only the lobe of his left ear, not the entire ear. The exact amount of ear removed is still debated, with opinions ranging from just the lobe to the entire ear. Van Gogh allegedly gifted the severed ear to a prostitute at a nearby brothel before being hospitalized for several days.
4. Starry Night
As one of the most celebrated and striking pieces of art, the famous Starry Night was surprisingly created in a small room at the Saint-Paul-de Mausoléo asylum. After suffering multiple manic episodes and realizing that depression was weighing heavily on him, Van Gogh voluntarily checked into the asylum. He was provided with a private studio where he was free to paint.
The studio window gave a view of a small village, and Van Gogh was mesmerized by how immense the stars appeared from his vantage point. Inspired by the scene, he went on to create an oil painting capturing the view. Despite the painting’s powerful and compelling nature, Van Gogh detested the result, considering it a failure.
3. Suicide
The cause of Van Gogh’s death is widely known, yet the details surrounding it are often misunderstood. Van Gogh had been visiting a field near Auvers, which he had painted multiple times. One day, he attempted to take his own life by shooting himself. Contrary to popular belief, he didn’t die immediately, as the shot did not strike any vital organs. Instead, he managed to return to the inn where he had been staying.
Unfortunately, the bullet became so deeply embedded in his body that the doctors could not extract it. This led to an infection, and two days after the self-inflicted wound to his abdomen, Van Gogh passed away on July 29, 1890, with his brother Theo at his side.
However, this narrative has been questioned by some, who suggest that Van Gogh may have been accidentally or perhaps deliberately shot by a pair of young teenagers while in the field. To shield the boys, Van Gogh supposedly took responsibility for the act, a story which was supported by his brother and the doctor who attended him afterward. The true account may never be uncovered.
2. Near to No Artwork Sold during His Lifetime
Vincent van Gogh embodied the archetype of the starving artist during his lifetime. Due to the fact that his art was regarded as “ugly” at the time, he was only able to sell a handful of paintings and a few drawings over the course of ten years. Most of these works were purchased by friends or family, and were often commissioned. It is known that Van Gogh traded many of his paintings to other artists or patrons for food and art supplies, so while his works were widely circulating during his life, he did not see significant financial reward. The popular belief is that he only managed to sell one painting until 1888, when he completed The Red Vineyard.
Van Gogh was invited to showcase his work in a group exhibition in Brussels, where he sent six paintings, including The Red Vineyard. Anna Boch, an artist, art collector, and sister of one of Van Gogh’s close friends, purchased the painting for 400 francs. Her intent was to support Van Gogh and to please her brother.
1. Mostly Painted Landscapes Due to Lack of Models
Looking at Vincent Van Gogh's body of work, it's evident that the majority of his paintings are landscapes, with very few exceptions, such as portraits of his family and friends. This was not necessarily by choice; his financial struggles meant he could not afford models for his portrait work. Additionally, his deteriorating mental health led to aggressive and hysterical behavior, causing the people in his town to view him as a public nuisance and avoid him. As a result, no one volunteered to pose for him, and being considered a 'failing artist' meant there were no commissions for portrait work either.
Van Gogh amassed an extensive collection of self-portraits, though there are a few exceptions, including portraits of Dr. Gachet, postman Joseph Roulin, and some prostitutes he met during his time in Paris.
