About Vincent van Gogh

Vincent Willem van Gogh (30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890) was a Dutch artist. His paintings and drawings include some of the world's best known, most popular and most expensive pieces. Some of Vincent van Gogh famous works include “The Potato Eaters”, “Sunflowers” and “The Starry Night”. He produced more than 2,000 works, including around 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings and sketches, during the last ten years of his life. Most of his best-known works were produced in the final two years of his life, during which time he cut off part of his left ear following a breakdown in his relationship with Paul Gauguin. After this, he suffered of mental illness, which led to his suicide.

Vincent van Gough seemed to behave quite radically in everything that he did. Not only cutting down his left ear, Vincent behaved as feverishly as well when he was a priest in the village of Petit Wasmes. Vincent opted to live like those he preached to, sharing their hardships to the extent of sleeping on straw in a small hut at the back of the baker's house. His choice of poor living conditions did not please the church authorities, and Vincent was being dismissed for "undermining the dignity of the priesthood."

The central figure in Van Gogh's life was his brother Theo, who continually and selflessly provided financial support to Vincent. Their lifelong friendship is documented in numerous letters they exchanged from August 1872 onwards. In the letter, Vincent shared with Theo about his religious belief, and his passion in drawing. They even exchanged their most inner thoughts and feelings. This means of communication enabled Vincent to express his opinions regarding what art was in his eyes. He was depressed because he cannot work while he was ill. “Art is jealous; she does not like taking second place to illness.”