30 March-Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh was a post-impressionist painter who was a native of The Netherlands. He worked for an international art dealer in The Hague. As part of his job he travelled to cities such as London and Paris. In 1880, at the age of 27 he decided to become an artist. His work included paintings of portraits, landscapes, wheat fields and sunflowers.

Vincent Willem van Gogh was born in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands in 1853. Virtually unknown during his lifetime his work had a big influence on 20th century art. Paul Gauguin, also a post-impressionist painter, was born in Paris, France in 1848. His work was influential on such artists as Matisse and Picasso but he was not well appreciated until after his death.

In 1888 van Gogh and Gauguin spent over two months painting together in van Gogh’s house in Arles. However they quarrelled frequently, mostly about art. Following one such quarrel van Gogh cut off part of his own ear on December 23rd 1888. He died at the age of 37 on July 29th 1890.

Vincent van Gogh was born in the year 1853 On This Day.

Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh, Houses at Auvers, 1890