Running head: THE LIFE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH

The Life of Vincent van Gogh

Emily D. Hill-Brown
Waxahachie Global High School
October 20, 2014

THE LIFE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH

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Abstract

The following essay will include a summary of Vincents van Goghs life, including his
early, and last days of living, and the trials and tribulations he dealt with including religious,
emotional, physical, and financial aspects. It will include his brother Theo, and their relationship,
van Goghs jobs, and themes of his art work. It will provide an accurate account of van Goghs
journeys and living arrangements. This essay will also express feeling into why van Gogh
acquired fame after his death, what his major pieces art are, and how he was influence by
historical events of his day.

THE LIFE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH

Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30th, 1853 to Theodorus Van Gogh (father) and
Anna Cornelia Carbentus (mother). Born and raised in the Netherlands, at the ripe young age of
16 acquired his first job. Over the next few years of van Goghs life he would move to London
and feel heartbreak after a failed attempt at love. In 1875, feeling depressed, uninterested, and
distraught van Gogh moved to Paris where he spent most of his time in religious studies. After
failing to gain entrance in a school of theology, twice, he moved to Brussels in 1880 where he
became an artist funded by his younger brother, Theo. During this time van Gogh endured a
horrible love life; falling in love with trouble women such as, his divorced cousin and an
alcoholic prostitute. After refocusing his life in Drenthe, Netherlands, van Gogh began working
on Potato Eaters, but his brother, Theo, thought the painting wouldnt fare so well in Paris.
Still, van Gogh moved to Paris uninvited and saw impressionism and Japonism, like ukiyo-e, for
the first time. Enthralled with impressionisms colors and Japonisms bold designs he began
studying these styles of paintings. After being told that Arles light is similar to the light in Japan,
van Gogh moved to the iconic little yellow house. Once there he became deranged, rumored
eating paint and turpentine. Concerned for his old brother, Theo had people watch over the
painter. One night, while fighting with a colleague, van Gogh, in an act of insanity, cut off his ear
and offered it to a local prostitute, who fainted at the item. Weak from blood loss, van Gogh was
hospitalized and depressed. The people of Arles decided that van Gogh was unstable and had him
moved to an asylum. In 1889 van Gogh was invited to display his works at a gallery in Brussels.
In January of 1890, van Gogh moved for the last time to another mental facility north of Paris to
be close to his younger brother and his family. After hearing Theo talking about his finances, van
Gogh sunk deeper in despair, and on July 27, 1890 shot himself in the chest. Two days later,
Vincent van Gogh died in his brothers arms at 37 years old.

THE LIFE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH

During Vincent van Goghs life, the painter received little to no recognition for his works
of art. Only after his death did he receive the immense amount of attention. The question stands:
Do people only care once youre dead? Most people probably just was attracted to his dramatic,
problematic, and emotional life. Nonetheless, van Goghs emotion infused painting are
beautifully constructed and deserved all the attention theyre getting, but if only people realized
his talent when he lived things would be different. Van Gogh, during this time, was influenced by
the impressionist and Japonism movements. He studied these styles and loosely incorporated the
themes into his artwork. These characteristics can be seen in many of his famous pieces such as
Irises and Starry Night, as well as the piece Sunflowers.
During van Goghs life there were many historical events that shaped the world today.
The Crimean War begins the year after his birth, and the War of 1870 were huge markers in van
Goghs life. Near the end of van Goghs life, the Panic of 1873 put the world in an economic
depression, and already worried about his finances, Van Gogh may have been influenced into a
deeper depression effecting his work. All throughout Vincent van Goghs life, he has faced
difficulties and trials, which shaped his magnificent pieces of art.

THE LIFE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH

Bibliography:
Vincent van Gogh Biography. (n.d.). Bio.com. Retrieved October 15, 2014, from
http://www.biography.com/people/vincent-van-gogh-9515695#synopsis

Vincent Van Gogh. (n.d.). SparkNotes. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from
http://www.sparknotes.com/biography/vangogh/summary.html

Artistic Influences. (n.d.). Vincent van Gogh Gallery. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from
http://www.vangoghgallery.com/influences

Vincent van Gogh. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved October 18, 2014, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh