Vincent van Gogh: The Tormented Genius of Post-Impressionism

Early Life and Artistic Development

Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands. The son of a Protestant minister, Van Gogh had a troubled and unsettled youth. He tried various professions, including working as an art dealer, a teacher, and a missionary, before turning to art at the age of 27.

Van Gogh's early works were influenced by the Dutch masters and the social realism of artists like Jean-François Millet. His initial pieces, such as "The Potato Eaters" (1885), are characterized by dark, earthy tones and a focus on the harsh realities of peasant life.

Paris and the Post-Impressionist Movement

In 1886, Van Gogh moved to Paris to join his brother Theo, an art dealer. This period was transformative for Van Gogh, as he encountered the works of the Impressionists and Neo-Impressionists. He befriended artists such as Paul Gauguin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Camille Pissarro, who exposed him to new techniques and vibrant color palettes.

During his time in Paris, Van Gogh's style evolved dramatically. He began using brighter colors and experimented with short, expressive brushstrokes. Works like "Sunflowers" (1888) and "The Café Terrace at Night" (1888) reflect this period of intense creativity and innovation.