5 Quirky Facts About Vincent van Gogh
What you might not know about this profound genius.
What do you imagine if I say, Vincent van Gogh? His world-famous painting of The Starry Night. Wait! He also cut part of his ear. This bizarre event made him unforgettable. He suffered from mental issues and committed suicide. Yet, as much as his life was tragic, his legacy is outstanding. He grew as an artist during his vivid life in France.
Vincent belongs to the iconic 19th-century group of artists who shaped modern art. This group moved forward boundaries and made people rethink art. Here are five facts that you might not have heard about Vincent yet.
1. Vincent the third
At first, Vincent’s parents had a boy called Vincent, who was stillborn. They named him after his grandfather. Soon after this sad event, they worked on another baby. Miraculously, the baby boy was born exactly one year after the first one and got a name — Vincent, again.
2. Vincent was a lost kid in his 20s
Vincent’s young life is like nowadays’ kids. He did not know what to do. He went to school but dropped. He tried several jobs. But, nothing worked out. His first relationship was with a pregnant prostitute. The whole time, he spoke vividly with God. He was even preaching Bible statements as ‘The Christ of the Coal Mine’ when staying with miners. Later, he wrote that by creating his art, he was serving God.
3. He collected Japanese art
While being a member of the Paris art squad in the 1880s, he discovered an unusual source of inspiration — Japanese art. He immediately started trying its exotic technique. The result was bright paintings with Japanese typography on the sides. Very van Gogh uncharacteristic!
4. His neighbours lodged a petition against him
Vincent’s mental health was unstable. It is not clear what exactly it was. The combination of parties, alcohol, coffee, and lack of nutrition might have started some mania and socio-depressive states. These prevented him from coping with everyday situations. After the incident with his ear, his neighbours were afraid of him. They wanted him to move away. So, they lodged a petition against him. Devastated, Vincent later voluntarily went to live in a psychiatric hospital.
5. Vincent the fourth
Vincent was very close to his brother Teo. Teo was supporting him throughout his life. When his first son was born, he honoured his older brother and named him Vincent Willem. The nephew Vincent became an engineer. But continued family devotion and the painter’s legacy. His efforts resulted in establishing the Van Gogh Foundation and Van Gogh Museum.
Credit and interesting resources about Vincent:
Vincent Van Gogh: A Life in Letters (2020, Nienke Bakker, Leo Jansen, Hans Luijten)
Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers (2019, Deborah Heiligman)
