Obviously his life was a struggle. But many times he wrote in his letters that he painted with joy and that he was happy to be in nature.
The Sunflowers is one of the most popular paintings in the National Gallery. It is the painting that is most often reproduced on cards, posters, mugs, tea-towels and stationery. It was also the picture that Van Gogh was most proud of.
Vincent produced his self-portraits because he wanted to practise painting people. The majority of them – over 25 – were done while he was in Paris (1886–88). He was short of money in that period and struggled to find models. So the artist chose the simplest solution and painted himself.
However, this did little to ensure his happiness and he returned home in 1868. He expressed his childhood as "austere and cold and sterile". As Van Gogh grew older, he grew more invested in his paintings.
His happiest year was in London
In 1873, van Gogh traveled to the British capital to work for the art dealer Goupil and Cie. He was previously employed by them in The Hague. This was the happiest time in his life.
Many theories exist as to why van Gogh's works weren't appreciated while he was alive, namely that he was ahead of his time, unsociable, mentally troubled and uninterested in marketing himself – the story of many traditional artists. van Gogh himself said, “I can't change the fact that my paintings don't sell.
As he lay on his death bed, having apparently shot himself, Vincent Van Gogh is said to have uttered the final words, "The sadness will last forever". It's hard to imagine a bleaker prophecy from the famed and deeply troubled Dutch artist.
Born in 1853, Van Gogh struggled with mental illness throughout his life. He suffered from depression, anxiety, and eventually developed epilepsy. These conditions made it difficult for him to maintain stable relationships, and he often felt isolated and alone.
In van Gogh's case, an early childhood trauma initiated a life-long suicidal process. His difficulties as regards attachment to and separation from his parents continued throughout his life and his emotional instability, intensity and lowered tolerance to frustration seem to portray a borderline personality.
Van Gogh, moreover, did not suffer from dementia, as can be seen from his writings and paintings right up until the end of his life. He did not show the symptoms of general paralysis, a well-known pathology at the time, or any signs of tabes.
It is good to love many things, for therein lies strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done with love is well done. ”
The Starry Night painting has been highly esteemed for decades and its value has reached $100 million, following its $50 million sale in 1990. The painting has fetched high prices in the past, with numerous auction house sales reaching millions of dollars.
Vincent took painting lessons in The Hague from a cousin by marriage, the celebrated artist Anton Mauve. Van Gogh felt his drawing technique was not yet good enough, so he also continued to practise fanatically. An uncle gave him his first commission: twelve drawings of city views in The Hague.
Vincent Van Gogh is often regarded as one of the greatest painters by art enthusiasts and critics, despite the fact that he did not receive much fame before his death. In fact, he had a massive influence during the eras of Post-Impressionism, Expressionism, Fauvism and Early Abstraction.
Yellow was Vincent Van Gogh's favorite color. He preferred yellow ochre in the beginning of his career, adding the newly discovered pigments cadmium yellow and chrome yellow later on. He transformed the light in his landscapes into pure color.
It seems evident that Van Gogh suffered from many symptoms of PTSD: insomnia, feelings of panic, anxiety, depression, self-doubt and fear.
If we can be certain about one thing, it's that Theo was Vincent's best friend. But he could also count others amongst his friends. During his Dutch period, he had regular contact with Anthon van Rappard, a fellow artist with whom he sometimes went painting.
At Eternity's Gate is one of Van Gogh's most emotional paintings, which demonstrates a deep understanding of emotion through the physical reaction of the subject. The painting portrays an old man seated in a chair with his hands on his head, weeping at the thought of his life coming to an end.
Vincent found it difficult to deal with the uncertainty about his future and illness. He felt lonely and depressed. Nevertheless, he was exceptionally productive in Auvers.
Although Van Gogh's infatuation ultimately ended in heartbreak, in the process of working through it he found himself and his art came alive in a new way — a beautiful and poignant reminder that our sorrow and our creative vitality spring from the same source.
The Van Gogh Museum
Following Jo's death in 1925 Vincent and Theo's art collection passed to her son, the engineer Vincent Willem van Gogh, who loaned his uncle's paintings to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam in 1930.
Josien and Sylvia are the granddaughters of Willem, great-grandchildren of Theo and so great-grandnieces of Vincent, who shot himself in 1890. They have lived with the name all their lives so at times seem slightly blase about the family inheritance.
#1: Anne Frank. Even on this list, Anne Frank is truly unique. She died at the tender age of 15 in a German concentration camp, and yet her writing - a simple diary - has gone on to become one of the most famous publications ever.
Before turning to art in 1881, he struggled with illness and isolation. Van Gogh had psychotic spells and delusions, and despite his concern for his mental well-being, he also ignored his physical well-being, did not eat properly, and drank excessively.