Barahona1

Vanessa Barahona

Mrs. Elder

Period: 5

11 December, 2015

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands. He was

born into a rather melancholy family after their first born, also named Vincent, was a stillborn. At

just age 15, Van Gogh had to quit school to support his financially unstable family. He chose to

follow in his mother's footsteps as a young and up in coming artist by joining his uncle in his art

dealership called Goupil & Cie and soon transferred to the London dealership. He fell in and out

of love with the area and the people due to his severe depression throughout his entire life. He

was constantly switching occupations along with homes in order to feed his creativity. Some

called him moody while others said he was trapped in his own mind. On July 29, 1890 Vincent

Van Gogh died at age 37 after a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Today, Vincent Van

Gogh is considered one of the greatest Dutch painters of all time. His art ranks amongst the

most expensive in the world for Irises was sold for $59.3 million while his Portrait of Dr.

Gachet sold for $82.3 million.

As previously, stated Vincent Van Gogh was born into a rather poor family which did not

end into adulthood. He spent most of his life being unwealthy and balancing various jobs

ranging from an art dealer to a preacher to a coal miner and lastly a painter. His short temper

and stubbornness was the cause of many failed careers and it wasnt until 1880 when he found

Brussels and decided to become an artist. His art, although keeping him level headed, lead him

to become even more poor than previous periods in his life. He often had a nomadic lifestyle

and painted while on the streets of his town. Most, if not all, of his money was spent on art
supplies and alcohol and it wasnt until this time that Van Gogh had realized not only was he

physically ill but his mental health was also deteriorating. After a failed marriage proposal, the

artist had a psychotic breakdown. During this time, he was known to eat turpentine and paint

and on one occasion actually cut off his own ear with a razor. He was hospitalized and soon

after put into an asylum where he spent his days in and out of his old yellow house painting. It

wasnt until his depression finally overtook the young man on his last days in his own home

where he committed suicide.

While some may say he didnt persevere his mental or financial struggles, I believe him

to be a man who overcame much in his life. Ive learned that sometimes we as people need to

realize that we may not be rewarded in this lifetime for our achievements yet that shouldnt

hinder you from accomplishing goals to the best of your ability. Van Gogh was a man who didnt

have much. He lacked the funds and the mental stability to find success during life but that

didnt change the fact that he was much appreciated after death. He set out to do what he

pleased not for the money or for the fame but for his own wants in life. His story has taught me

that in life we have to aim for what is more than expected from ourselves. It has taught me that

just because others do not understand your ambitions that is no reason why you should give

them up.

Work Cited
"Vincent Van Gogh." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.

http://www.biography.com/people/vincent-van-gogh-9515695

"Vincent Van Gogh: Biography." Vincent Van Gogh: Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.

http://www.vggallery.com/misc/bio.htm