This is a brief review of Vincent Van Gogh´s life as an artist, his personal matters, and some interesting facts.

1. “The stroke of a genius”
1853-1890

2. WHO WAS HE?
Born on March 30th, 1853 in Zundert, the Netherlands. Some historians crown him as the second best
Dutch artist behind Rembrandt, a master painter. He had a difficult life not only for mental illness, but also
rejection.
Wood Gathereres in the Snow, 1884The Bearers of the Burden/ Women Miners Carrying Coal, 1882
Still life with Bible, 1885
The Potato Eaters,
1885
THE EARLY YEARS

3. Vincent had been living 63 days
with Paul Gauguin, a famous
painter, in Arles. They both had
strong personalities.
The night before Christmas’s
Eve in 1888, a thoroughly drunk
Vincent threaten Gauguin on
the streets with a penknife.
Vincent cut his ear with the
penknife, from the top to the
bottom, standing in front of a
mirror.
It bled a lot. He wrapped the ear
into newspaper and took it to
the brothel to give it to Rachel,
his favorite whore.
On the next day of the cut,
Gauguin went out of the city
and he never saw Vincent
again.
Vincent couldn’t remember
anything about what had
happened. It was and still is a
mysterious collapse.
Thirty people from Arles
signed a petition to kick him
out, because he was a
threaten for the city, a drunk
man and women stalker.
THE EAR EPISODE
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889

4. REJECTION
-His mother never showed him affection, the woman
he was in love with at eighteen years old rejected
him, as well as his widow cousin, years later.
-The church left him aside, he couldn´t study to be a
Priest and his evangelistic mission failed.
-He couldn´t have a stable job, so he wasn´t able to
afford his living.
-Van Gogh was expelled from Arles, France.
-In Saint Remi´s Assylum Vincent wrote to Theo “I
will never
be an important painter, I am absolutely sure about
that.”
All these matter may have caused him the epileptic
attacks
and his hostile mood changes are now called
bipolar Sorrowing Old Man, 1890
Sunflowers, 1888

5. It was in Arles that Vincent´s genius started to
come through in bright hues of yellow, mauve
and deep blue.
While in the asylum, Vincent painted a lot and
had some paintings exhibited in Brussels. He
only sold one painting in his entire life, it was
one of the Arle´s vineyards, for 400 francs.
He painted a lot during his last 69 days of life,
he produced 80 paintings.
The 27 of July in 1890, Vincent shot himself
near the heart and he walked back to his
room not telling no one about it, and lied in
his bed. Van Gogh died with 37 years old, and
he had been an artist for nine years.
The Red Vineyards, 1888
THE GENIUS EMERGE

6. STYLE AND TRANSCENDENCE
Garden in Bloom, 1888
Movie shot
Japanes art ideas + Impressionism and Post- impressionism style.
He made 2100 artworks and people still stop to look at Vincent Van Gogh’s art
at museums.
Nowadays there is an art style called Neo- Gogh, which corresponds to paintings
that are contemporary impressionist and that have Van Gogh´s influence,
observable by the use of colors, similar or same objects Van Gogh did (like
chairs, starry skies, curvy lines in the landscapes, portraits, etc.).
The Night Café in the Place Lamartine in
Arles, 1888

7. Vincent paintings have opened a door to a new evolution in
décor and art. The Gogh's infamous sunflowers have altered
many views on color schemes, exaggerated features, and
stereotypically beautiful flowers in minimalistic form.
Vincent Van Gogh´s Self Portraits have also influenced the
sculpture world.
You can easily buy Vincent Van Gogh style or quotes on t-
shirts, bags, jogging suits, leggings, and even phone cases in
Amazon, E-bay, and many more shopping webpages. There are
also several movies about Van Gogh’s life, the most recent one
was released in 2010.
Vincent Van Gogh died 126 years ago and he has
got more than 2 million followers on Facebook,
and a public group with 31 000 fans members.

8. CURIOUS AND TRUE FACTS
Vincent had an older brother who died at birth. His name was also
Vincent van Gogh.
Vincent’s brother Theo died six months after Vincent and is buried
next to him in Auvers, France.
Vincent’s brother’s wife collected Vincent’s paintings and letters
after his death and dedicated herself to getting his work the
recognition it deserved.
In a short period of ten years Van Gogh made approximately 900
paintings.
Vincent van Gogh did not cut off his ear. He only cut off a small
portion of his ear lobe.
Van Gogh wrote over 800 letters in his lifetime. The majority of
them written to his brother and closest friend Theo.
The seven most expensive paintings of Van Gogh were sold for
over 722 million dollars.

10. http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/quotes.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKPsqlrZKmU
http://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/11/221.htm
http://www.artble.com/artists/vincent_van_gogh
https://prezi.com/jlrtsbjnno9c/how-did-vincent-van-gogh-
impact-the-art-world/
BIBLIOGRAPHY