Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in Zundert, Netherlands. He struggled with mental illness (depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder) until he died on July 29, 1890, in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. One of the things he was known for was being eccentric. He cut off part of his own ear! Van Gogh had little money in his life, and only one of his paintings were sold while he was living.
He created more than 2,000 pieces of art: about 900 paintings and 1,100 sketches and drawings. His art is recognizable for its unique brushstrokes, emotion, and color. This reflects the main characteristics of impressionism in his use of vivid color, extreme emotions (both happy and sad), and the short brushstrokes. Some main themes in his art were landscapes and local people.
To see more of his paintings, watch the video above.
"Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter's soul" Vincent Van Gogh
Credits:
Created with images by Ed Bierman - "Vincent van Gogh Dutch, 1853-1890 Self-Portrait, 1887" • irinaraquel - "Vincent Van Gogh - The Starry Night" • Peter C in Toronto Canada - "XGetty Center_20140705_73" • xiquinhosilva - "17020-Van-Gogh-Museum" • xiquinhosilva - "17064-Van-Gogh-Museum"