Artist Spotlight: Vincent van Gogh

Most of us can probably agree that Vincent van Gogh’s work is, at this point, iconic. But while Van Gogh was among the living, he sold exactly one piece of art. (flathatnews.com) And he was so poor that rather than use models for his paintings, he used peasants, which is why most of his work is of landscapes, florals, and well, himself. There is still a lot left unknown about the tortured artist, but we rounded up a few facts we do know about him. Let’s get started. 

(image via: Wikipedia)

Van Gogh wasn’t just a painter, he was also a writer, so an artist in many forms. His career spanned one decade, from age 27 – 37, the year he committed suicide. Aside from 900 paintings, he also composed 900 letters. If you’re dying to know what was in those letters, you can nab a copy of The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh right here

Mental illness was something Van Gogh had to live with and he had to do so during a time when medicine and research weren’t anywhere near where they are today. His symptoms included hallucinations, depression, and seizures, all of which were severe at times. Modern-day psychiatrists have attempted to diagnose him, but as it turns out, Van Gogh was showing symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar, syphilis, hypergraphia, Geschwind syndrome, temporal lobe epilepsy, and a combination of these isn’t out of the question. 

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Like many of us, before selecting one career, Van Gogh tried his hand at several including an art dealer, a teacher, and a preacher. But in 1880 he declared himself an artist, then traveled around Belgium, Holland, and France. 

(image via: van Gogh museum)

The painting Starry Night is one most of us can identify with ease, but did you know the view that we’re all admiring is the view from Van Gogh’s asylum window? After a nervous breakdown, Van Gogh checked himself into an asylum in France to recover, and he found inspiration in the view outside of his window. 

The man lived on a diet of bread, cigarettes, and alcohol. Despite having grown up well off, VAn Gogh’s adult life didn’t depict that in the slightest; in fact, he had to live on cheap food, he was known for drinking excessively and was rarely seen without a pipe in hand. His brother would often give him money for food but like a true artist, he used the money on more supplies. By the age of 33, Van Gogh wrote in a letter to his brother that he had eaten maybe 6 hot meals in the last year, and all of his teeth hurt and felt loose.

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