Facts About Artist Vincent Van Gogh

Little Known Facts About One of Our Favorite Painters!

At times, its a good idea to take a step back and learn about an artist. Often times we are stuck in the hustle and bustle of life, and of course creating our very own wonderful pieces of artwork. Jerry’s offers so much to artists from videos, learning tools, resources, helpful live shows and of course… the absolute best curate selection of art materials artists have to use and love.

Here are some very interesting yet known facts about Artist Vincent Van Gogh and has contributions to the world of art

Facts About Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh was born March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands and died July 29, 1890 at the young age of 37. His death came after years of physical and mental health struggles, as well as financial difficulties

So, for your entertainment, here are some fun and intriguing facts about one of the greatest painters to have ever lived.

FACT: His Major Works

Van Gogh created over 2,000 artworks in his time as an artist, which comprised landscapes, still lifes and portraits.

Among his known pieces are “The Starry Night ” “Sunflowers,” “Irises,” and “Self Portrait, with Bandaged Ear.”

Vincent Van Gogh is considered the father of Post-Impressionism and the painter of such favorite paintings as Starry Night, sunflowers, wheat fields, self portraits and cypress trees, there are still a lot of interesting facts that fall to the wayside.

FACT: Van Gogh was born in Holland (Groot-Zundert, Netherlands)

He was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter whose work is among the most famous and influential in the history of Western art supposed to follow his father’s footsteps and become a pastor.

FACT: How Artist Vincent Van Gogh Died:

One of the strangest things about Van Gogh’s supposed suicide at the age of 37 is that he might have been in fact, murdered.

It is now thought and speculated that a local teen bully may have murdered him. Evidence points out that no gun was found where he was shot, his hands showed no signs of gun burns, and because he would have been unable to hold the gun close enough to his body to shoot himself. However, the verdict is still out. 

FACT: He started painting at age 27!

And while he didn’t follow his father’s footsteps and become a pastor, he didn’t start painting until he was about 27.

FACT: What is Van Gogh ‘s most famous, well know paintings?

Van Gogh painted his most famous masterpiece, Starry Night, while residing in a mental institution.

FACT: Did He Sell Any Paintings on those 10 years?

Vincent only sold one painting during his lifetime.

He painted approximately 900 paintings in only about 10 years, that’s amazing!

FACT: His Brother had the same name!

Sadly, when he was a child, Vincent had to walk past a tombstone with his own name on it on the way to school- the tombstone belonged to his brother with the same name who died as an infant.

FACT: He cut off part of his own ear

Throughout his life he had episodes of depression, anxiety, and hallucinations and it has been said that he cut off part of his own ear. However, the story of Van Gogh cutting off his own ear may have actually been false as new evidence suggests it was his friend, Paul Gauguin who cut his earlobe off.

FACT: Van Gogh Loved to paint self portraits

Between 1886 and 1889 Van Gogh created than 30 self portraits, which have become a part of his artistic collection. These paintings showcase his personality, brilliance and lasting impact on the art world.

His self-portraits are often seen as windows into his troubled mind and emotional struggles

Van Goghs self portraits also gave him the opportunity to explore methods, aesthetics and emotions. By employing brushstrokes vivid hues and emotive movements he depicted his struggles and creative perspective.

FACT: His Legacy

Van Goghs self portraits are well known for their expression, depth of feeling and skillful execution. They still captivate artists and spectators providing insights, into the realm of one of the legendary painters, in history.

FACT: What paint did Van Gogh use at one time?

Van Gogh used LUKAS oil paints and wrote this to his brother Theo about them in 1885:

“I have ordered colors from Schoenfeld [LUKAS] in Düsseldorf, as there were some colors which I couldn´t get here…the picture with the potato eaters is not good in some details…I should have had a better result with the mineral blue that I have now [from LUKAS], instead of the old one.”

– Vincent van Gogh

 

Jerry’s Artarama carries many products under the Van Gogh name including:

• the Van Gogh Table Easel
• Van Gogh Oil Paints
• Van Gogh Watercolors
• and more