Vincent Van Gogh was born in 1853 in the Netherlands to a clergyman father. He became interested in art at a young age through his uncles who were art dealers. After working for an art dealership, Van Gogh struggled to find his path and spent time working as a preacher to miners. He eventually dedicated himself fully to becoming an artist. His brother Theo was his biggest supporter and friend. Van Gogh had mental health struggles and was cared for by Dr. Rey and Dr. Gachet during his time in Arles, France, where he created many of his iconic paintings.

1. Start with clicking on the moon
Then, Click on the Stars to Learn about Van
gogh’s Life

2. The Early Years
Vincent Van Gogh was born on March
30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert,
Netherlands.
His father was a clergyman (preacher)
in the protestant church.
He was the oldest of six children with
three sisters and two brothers
He became interested in paintings at
an early age because three of his uncles
were art dealers
Vincent Van Gogh (Circa 1864)
Photographer Unknown
Click Here to see
Vangogh’s Early
Works
The Van Gogh Gallery. 17 January 2008. Templeton Reid, LLC. Date you accessed the site

3. Early Works
In this early sketch, you
can see the influence of
the “Classical Drawing”
techniques taught to Van
Gogh when he was sent to
Boarding School
Windmills at Monmatre
Pencil on Paper, 1877

4. Early Works
Here, Vincent's work has become
more refined. The drawing shows
signs of things to come in the way he
treats the tree limbs with long
flowing pencil marks.
Road with Pollard Willows and Man with Broom
Pencil on paper washed, 1881

5. Goupil and Company
When Vincent was 16 his Uncle
Cent helped him to find a job working
for a group of art dealers “Goupil and
Company”
 Goupil and Company was located in
the Dutch capital, The Hague
Goupil was an important step in Van
Gogh’s life because it introduced him
to many important people and artists
who were working in The Hague
The firm was so impressed with
Vincent that in 1873 they sent him to
London to work in an art Gallery Vincent Van Gogh Circa 1869 (Age
16)
Photographer Unknown
Click to learn more

6. The influence of uncle cent
Vincent van Gogh had ten aunts and
uncles on his father's side,
but it was arguably his Uncle Vincent
(Uncle "Cent") who had the most influence
on Vincent's life
For more than four years Vincent worked
at his uncle's art firm in The Hague and
excelled in learning the art business
In 1873 Vincent was transferred to
Goupil's London branch
Vincent Van Gogh (Uncle Cent)
 Unfortunately, after a successful 1820-1888 Photographer Unknown
beginning Vincent's performance began to
deteriorate
 A temporary transfer to Goupil's Paris
branch failed to motivate Vincent, and he
chose to leave Goupil's in 1875.
Click the arrow to see more

7. Artists with an influence
Paul Signac
Gave Van Gogh his first look at a new style
of art called neo-impressionism (pointillism)
Was one of many young painters known as
the “Fauvists”
His (and others) style of painting was with
quick thickly placed colors that did not
attempt to capture an image in its true colors.
Paul Signac, 1863 -, 1935
Photographer Unknown
Paul Signac, Gas Tanks at Clichy, Sunday, Oil on Canvas,1888
Oil on Canvas,1886 More

8. Artists with an influence
Like his friend Vincent, Paul Gauguin
experienced bouts of depression and at one
time attempted suicide.
In 1888 the two artists spent five weeks
together sharing ideas and creating art
The meeting ended in a bad situation with
the artists going their separate ways
Paul Gauguin, 1848-1903
Photographer Unknown
Les Alyscamps, The Yellow Christ, The Swineherd,
Oil on Canvas, 1888 Oil on Canvas, 1889 Oil on Canvas, 1888

9. Preacher and Peasant
After leaving Goupil’s, Vincent
moved to Amsterdam where he
lived with his Uncle Johannes
He struggled for more than a year
studying the Greek and Latin
languages both day and night
In 1878, (not long after failing his
church exams) he joined a
community of poor workers in a
run down mining area of Brussels,
Belgium
Return of the Miners, Pen and Ink on Paper, 1881
He lived with and Preached to
the families until 1881
During his time living as a
peasant Vincent practiced his
drawing and painting skills by
creating images of what he saw in
his environment
Click to see more

10. Preacher and Peasant
Man Stooping with Spade
Oil on Canvas, 1882
Still Life with Cabbage and Clogs,
Oil on paper on panel
The Hague: November - late
month to mid December, 1881

11. Preacher and Peasant
After 1881 Vincent returned to
his training as an artist
It is at this point in his life he
begins to use a more colorful
palette
“I will take up my pencil, which I have
forsaken in my discouragement, and I
will go on with my drawing. From that
moment on everything has seemed
transformed for me.”
Vincent
Cluster of Old Houses with the New Church in
The Hague
Oil on Canvas on Cardboard, 1882

12. Preacher and Peasant
Girl in White in the Woods,
Oil on Board, August, 1882

13. Brother and friend
Nearly 700 letters exist that were written
between Vincent and his brother Theo Van
Gogh
The letters between the brothers are key
to understanding the struggles Vincent
went through
They were lifelong friends and Theo was
Vincent's favorite brother
It was Theo that Vincent turned to
whenever he had troubles
Theo Van Gogh
Late in Vincent’s life it was Theo that
1857-1891
supported Vincent financially
At the end of Vincent's life he worked
closely with the doctors to try and help
After Vincent’s death Theo was said to
never be the same

14. The doctors
Letter #567
Arles, 2nd January, 1889
My Dear Theo,
So as to reassure you on my account, I write to you these few lines in the office of the intern,
Dr. M. Rey, whom you have yourself met. I shall stay here at the hospital for a few more days,
then I think I can count on quietly returning to the house.
Now I only beg of you one thing, not to worry, because that would cause me too much of a worry.
Now let’s talk of our friend Gauguin, have I terrified him? In short why hasn’t he given me any
sign of life? He must have left with you. Besides, he had a need to return to Paris, and in Paris
perhaps, he will feel more at home than here. Tell Gauguin to write to me, and that I think
about him all the time. A good handshake, I have read and re-read your letter about your
meeting with the Bongers. It is perfect. As for me, I am content to stay just as I am.
Again a good handshake to you and Gauguin.
Vincent
Write to me at the same address, Pace Lamartine, 2.
[Added to this letter was a note from Dr. Rey]
I add a few words to your brother’s letter to reassure you, in my turn, on his account.
I am happy to tell you that my predictions have been realized and that this over-excitement has
only been temporary. I feel strongly that he will be himself in a few days. I have made a point
of his writing to you himself, to tell you in his own words his condition. I made him come down to
my office to talk for a bit. It will entertain me and it will do him good.
Please accept my kind regards, I am yours very truly,
Rey
Click here to learn more about Dr.
Rey

15. The doctors
Dr Rey was 23 years old
when Van Gogh was his
patient
He was very sympathetic to
Vincent and cared deeply
about him
Van Gogh gave Dr Rey the
portrait as a gift
It is said that Dr. Rey never
really liked the painting and
actually used it to block up a
hole in his chicken coop for
awhile.
Dr. Felix Rey, 1889. Oil on canvas.
Vincent van Gogh 25 1/4 x 21 in.
Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts,
Moscow

16. The Doctors
Theo Van Gogh, thought that Dr.
Gachet would take good care of
Vincent during his recovery because
he was sensitive to artists
Soon after Vincent got to know Dr.
Gachet he described him in a letter to
Theo as: “sicker than I am, I think, or
shall we say just as much . . . .”
Dr. Gachet is the last medical
person to take care of Vincent before
his suicide
There were not very many
medicines available for Dr Gachet to
Portrait of Dr Gachet, 1890 (1st Version)
use that could treat Vincent’s illness
Oil on Canvas
Private Collection
“I've done the portrait of M. Gachet with a melancholy expression, which
might well seem like a grimace to those who see it... Sad but gentle, yet
clear and intelligent, that is how many portraits ought to be done... “
Vincent

17. While at the Asylum
**Note the cypress
tree in the
background**
This is the same tree
that shows up again
in “Starry Night”
Dr. Gachet's Garden, 1890, Oil on Canvas

18. While at the Asylum
The Olive Trees, Oil on Canvas, 1889 Bedroom in Arles, Oil on Canvas, 1888

19. While at the Asylum
The Harvest, Oil on Canvas, 1888 Starry Night, Oil on Canvas, 1889

20. Portraits Watch this video. You
can replay it as many
of Vincent times as you like. (Be
ready to discuss it in
Van Gogh class)
•Watch how the
expressions on Van
Gogh’s face change.
• What do you see in the
eyes of the portraits?
•Do you think these
were all done by the
same artist?

21. The End of the Lineine