1. Vincent van Gogh was a post-Impressionist Dutch painter known for his rough, emotionally honest style and bold use of color that influenced 20th century art. He struggled with mental illness and died by suicide at age 37. 2. Van Gogh began drawing as a child and worked as an art dealer before deciding to become an artist in his late 20s. In over a decade, he produced over 2,000 works including self-portraits, landscapes, and paintings of flowers, fields, and sunflowers. 3. Don McLean is an American singer-songwriter best known for the songs "American Pie" and "Vincent," a tribute to Van Gogh. "American Pie"