Vincent van Gogh - Masterpiece Curations

Vincent Van Gogh was a passionate artist who touched the heart of millions. Want to learn more about this amazing artist? Check out our free homeschool artist study biography on Vincent van Gogh.

“I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.” ~ Vincent van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh Early Life

Vincent van Gogh (pronunciation) was born on March 30, 1853, in Groot-Zundert, Holland. As the son of a pastor, he was raised in a strict, religious home and cultured atmosphere. However, Vincent struggled with emotional instability and lack of direction throughout his early years. He worked unsuccessfully as a bookstore clerk and an art salesman, but he believed that his true calling was to preach the gospel. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful in this vocation as well. It wasn’t until he was in his late 20s that he decided to pursue another love and began to paint.

His first drawings and paintings were dark and somber-toned, depicting scenes from the daily life of the local peasants. His most famous painting from this period is “The Potato Eaters.”

Vincent Move to France

When Vincent moved to Paris, France to be with his brother, Theo, he saw the beautiful works of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters. It was then that he began to add color and movement to his paintings.

***Fishing in the Spring, Pont de Clichy 1887***

Unhappy with the Parisian Artist scene, he decided to move to the city of Arles in the South of France. The sunlight, the beauty, and the color inspired Vincent to paint some of his most famous paintings through which he endeavored to “express” his feelings at the time.

He also hoped to start an artist colony with his friend and fellow painter, Paul Gaugin, called the Studio of the South.

Violent Dispute

Unfortunately, the friendship between Van Gogh and Gaugin was unstable (to say the least). After only a few months, a bitter argument between the two ended with Vincent cutting off his ear and nearly bleeding to death. Gaugin left after this incident and the two never saw each other again.

Vincent Van Gogh Starry Night

Not long after this terrible episode, the villagers of Arles signed a petition to have Vincent admitted into an asylum. It was extremely difficult for him there because he was not allowed any freedom, nor was he allowed to paint. After he was released he continued to paint for a while but voluntarily admitted himself into a different hospital later on where he was allowed many freedoms and even given an extra room in which to set up a studio and paint. It was here that he painted his famous work, Starry Night.

He did not live long after this. On July 29, 1890, Vincent van Gogh died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, believing he was a failure as an artist and having only sold one painting in his lifetime. However, his distinctive style of painting inspired a whole new form of art called, Expressionism.

The only art review to appear in his lifetime was by art critic, Albert Aurier who wrote:

“What characterizes his work as a whole is its excess of strength, of nervousness, its violence of expression. His color, we know already – unbelievably dazzling, with this metallic, jewel-like quality. In his categorical affirmation of character of things, a powerful figure is revealed: masculine, daring, very often brutal, yet sometimes ingeniously delicate.”

Today, Vincent van Gogh is considered the greatest Dutch painter after Rembrandt. He completed more than 2,100 works, consisting of 860 oil paintings and more than 1,300 watercolors, drawings, and sketches. His paintings which no one wanted to buy in his lifetime are now worth millions and millions of dollars.

Want to learn more about this amazing artist who has touched the hearts of millions? Download the Vincent van Gogh volume of the Masterpiece Society Art Appreciation. This curriculum has been developed with the busy mom in mind – no prep time or other materials necessary – photographs of each painting, lessons, kid-friendly video links, art templates, and notebooking pages are all included in each PDF packet!