Remarkable artists – Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most famous painters in history, but did you know…

Vincent Van Gogh – self portrait

The Red Vineyard – Vincent Van Gogh

Portrait of Dr. Gachet

Van Gogh – Bedroom in Arles

The Night Cafe

Starry Night

Irises

• Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime: The Red Vineyard. The buyer was Anna Boch, a Belgian Painter.
• When Van Gogh’s paintings are sold today, they are among  the most expensive painitngs ever
• At the age of 32 he went to the art academy, but was sent away after 3 months
• He only painted 10 years, but produced 2100 art works in this period
• His brother Theo sent him money to survive.
• He worked as a missionary in the Borinage, a Belgian coal mining region
• He suffered from tinnitus. As a result he heared non-existing sounds.
• About his cut off ear:
  • Some say tinnitus was the reason why he cut of his ear: to stop the sounds in his head
  • Other sources say that he cut of his ear accidentally in a fight with Paul Gauguin, using a razor blade.
  • And yet another story tells Paul Gauguin cut of Van Gogh’s ear with a sword in a fight for a local girl
  • It is said he cut of his ear and brought it to a prostitute
• He had periods he was very depressive and in which he had hallucinations
• He stayed in mental institutions for this.
• Dr Gachet treated him. A portrait from Van Gogh of dr Gachet was sold in 1990 for US$ 82.5 million
• Officialy, he commited suicide with a revolver (but the gun was never found)