The melancholic Master Vincent Van Gogh

 

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter who is one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. He struggled with mental health issues throughout his life, including severe depression. His emotional turmoil greatly inspired him to create masterpieces such as "The Starry Night," which depict turbulent skies and exaggerated emotion.

. Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands, into an upper-middle class family. From an early age he showed signs of a keen artistic interest and appreciation of nature, taking part in drawing lessons with his brothers. He later studied at various art academies, although he failed to get into any major Dutch art institutions due to his refusal to conform to their standards. Van Gogh’s painting career was short-lived but intensely prolific, producing over 2,100 works within a period of ten years – ranging from traditional still lifes and landscapes, through to expressive portraits and abstract paintings. During this time, van Gogh produced some of the most recognizable works of modern art such as ‘The Starry Night’ and ‘Sunflowers’. His exploration into bold color schemes gave rise to Impressionism which is one of the cornerstones of modern art.

It is believed that Vincent Van Gogh cut off his own ear in December 1888 as a result of an escalating argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin. The exact details of what occurred are still debated, however it is thought to have been an act of desperation, most likely fueled by mental illness and the stressful situation Van Gogh was facing. 

Tragically, Van Gogh died at only 37 years old from an apparent suicide after a decade of illness and mental anguish suffered throughout his career. But despite all this darkness and sadness surrounding him, we are still able to celebrate him today through his iconic works and ongoing influence on modern culture. We remember him fondly for the light he brought us during some difficult times!