Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) was a Dutch painter whose vivid colour and energetic brushwork reshaped modern art. Born in Zundert in the Netherlands, he first worked as an art dealer and later tried his hand at teaching and preaching before turning seriously to painting in his early thirties.
After early, darker works such as The Potato Eaters (1885), Van Gogh moved to Paris, where he encountered Impressionism and Pointillism. Their lighter palettes and interest in everyday life influenced him deeply. Seeking clearer light and a fresh start, he moved to Arles in 1888, dreaming of an artists’ community. The period produced some of his best-known paintings, including the Sunflowers and The Bedroom. A brief, tense collaboration with Paul Gauguin ended in crisis, and Van Gogh was hospitalised.
He spent time in asylums in Arles and Saint-Rémy, painting prolifically; The Starry Night dates from 1889. In 1890 he moved to Auvers-sur-Oise under the care of Dr Paul Gachet. Struggling with his mental health, he died that July, aged 37.
During his lifetime he sold little, relying on the support of his brother Theo. Posthumously, his letters and the advocacy of Theo’s wife, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, helped secure his reputation. Today, Van Gogh is celebrated for his honesty, intensity, and a legacy of more than 800 oil paintings created in a remarkably short span.