Vincent Van Gogh: The Humble Genius

Summary

The video script delves into the life of Vincent van Gogh, a misunderstood genius whose mental struggles and unrequited love shaped his art. From his early life in the Netherlands to his artistic journey in Paris, the script explores van Gogh's dedication to his craft, his influence by impressionism, and his tragic end. Despite his obscurity during his lifetime, van Gogh's passion for painting left a legacy that now commands millions, proving that love and dedication can transcend time.

Takeaways

• 😀 Vincent van Gogh is widely recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time, despite his struggles with mental illness.
• 🏡 He was born in the Netherlands in 1853 and grew up in a strict household with a depressed mother who influenced his upbringing.
• 👨‍👧 His father and grandfather were ministers, which led to Vincent's initial career aspirations in the church.
• 🎨 Van Gogh had a natural talent for art, which was nurtured by his mother and later influenced his career choice as an artist.
• 📚 He was multilingual, speaking French, German, and English fluently, which helped him in his early career in the art dealership.
• 💔 Vincent faced multiple heartbreaks, including unrequited love and failed marriage proposals, which added to his emotional turmoil.
• 🌾 His time in the coal mining towns of Belgium deeply affected him, leading to his empathetic depictions of the working class in his art.
• 🖌️ At 27, Vincent decided to become an artist, supported financially by his brother Theo, who believed in his talent and potential.
• 💔 Vincent's relationships, including one with a prostitute named CN, often ended in heartbreak and contributed to his mental health issues.
• 🌻 His iconic painting 'The Potato Eaters' is considered one of his first masterpieces, capturing the essence of the poor.
• 🎨 Van Gogh's move to Paris exposed him to the Impressionist movement, which significantly influenced his transition to vibrant colors in his work.
• 🌞 His time in Arles, living in the 'Yellow House,' was productive but marred by mental health crises, culminating in his infamous ear-cutting incident.
• 🔪 The script describes a dramatic encounter with Paul Gauguin, which ended with Vincent in a downward spiral, leading to his hospitalization.
• 💔 Vincent's mental health continued to deteriorate, and despite periods of productivity and hope, he ultimately took his own life at the age of 37.
• 🌟 Posthumously, van Gogh's work gained recognition, and his paintings became highly valuable, with 'Portrait of Dr. Gachet' selling for millions.
• 📚 Theo's widow, Johanna, played a crucial role in cataloging and promoting Vincent's work, ensuring his legacy as a master painter.

Q & A

How is Vincent van Gogh's name pronounced in the UK?

In the UK, Vincent van Gogh's name is pronounced as 'Vincent van Gogh,' not 'Vincent, van Gogh.'

What was the impact of Vincent van Gogh's early life on his art?

Vincent van Gogh's early life, marked by family tragedy and a strict upbringing, influenced his art. His mother's depression and the death of his stillborn brother may have contributed to his emotional depth and introspection in his work.

Why did Vincent leave school at a young age?

Vincent had to leave school early because his family needed him to work as soon as possible.

What was Vincent's first job related to art?

Vincent's first job related to art was an apprenticeship at an art dealership, Goupil and Cie, arranged by his uncle.

How did Vincent's time in London influence his life and work?

In London, Vincent lived in a boarding house owned by a widow and her daughter, an experience that some historians believe led to his first romantic heartbreak. He also worked at an art dealership, which exposed him to various art forms and artists.

What significant event led to Vincent's dismissal from his job at the art dealership?

Vincent was dismissed from his job at the art dealership because he advised customers not to buy certain artworks, which was contrary to his job responsibilities.

Why did Vincent decide to become a minister?

After being fired from his job, Vincent decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become a minister, hoping to find a purpose and serve others.

What was Vincent's living condition like when he volunteered to help in the coal mining towns?

Vincent lived in squalor, giving up his comfortable house to a sick local woman and choosing to live in a coal mining shack with no furniture, sleeping on a bare wooden floor.

How did Vincent's relationship with his brother Theo support his artistic career?

Theo financially supported Vincent's artistic endeavors, sending him 50 francs a month for living expenses and agreeing to sell Vincent's paintings, providing him with the means to continue creating art.

What was the significance of the painting 'The Potato Eaters' in Vincent's career?

'The Potato Eaters' is considered one of Vincent's first masterpieces as it captures the essence and emotions of the poor farm workers, showcasing his ability to convey deep human experiences through his art.

How did Vincent's move to Paris and exposure to Impressionist art affect his painting style?

After moving to Paris and being introduced to Impressionist art, Vincent shifted from dark hues to vibrant colors, adopting a more popular and lively style that was well-received in the art market.

What was the tragic event that led to Vincent's hospitalization after a fight with Paul Gauguin?

Vincent's deteriorating mental state led to a violent confrontation with Paul Gauguin, during which Vincent chased Gauguin with an open razor blade. Later that night, Vincent cut off part of his own ear and gave it to a prostitute, which resulted in his hospitalization.

What was the first painting of Vincent's that was sold, and for how much?

The first painting of Vincent's that was sold was 'The Red Vineyards,' which sold for 400 francs.

How did Vincent's relationship with his brother Theo evolve after Theo's marriage?

After Theo's marriage, his wife Johanna supported Vincent's art career, and their relationship with Vincent did not deteriorate as Vincent had feared. Instead, it seemed to strengthen as a family unit.

What were the circumstances surrounding Vincent's death?

Vincent died after shooting himself in the chest with a loaded pistol in a field. He survived the initial gunshot but succumbed to his injuries the next day, with his brother Theo by his side.

What legacy did Vincent van Gogh leave behind, and how did his work gain recognition?

Vincent van Gogh left behind a legacy of over 2100 catalogued artworks, including 860 paintings. His work gained recognition posthumously, with his brother's widow Johanna playing a crucial role in cataloguing and promoting his art, leading to the world recognizing his genius.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

This paragraph delves into Vincent van Gogh's early life, his pronunciation in the UK, and his initial foray into the art world. Born in 1853 in the Netherlands, Vincent grew up in a strict household with a traumatized mother and a lineage of ministers. His love for drawing was nurtured by his amateur artist mother, and despite leaving school early, he became multilingual, thanks to his job at an art dealership. His life took a dramatic turn with an apprenticeship in London, a complex love life, and a failed attempt to become a minister. The paragraph sets the stage for Vincent's eventual recognition as one of history's greatest artists, despite his personal struggles.

05:01

🖌️ The Artistic Journey and Personal Struggles

Vincent van Gogh's journey as an artist is explored in this paragraph, highlighting his transition from a preacher to a painter, supported by his brother Theo. Vincent's dedication to his craft was evident in his willingness to sacrifice basic needs for art supplies. His personal life was fraught with unrequited love and health issues, including syphilis and gonorrhea, contracted from a prostitute with whom he had a relationship. Despite these adversities, Vincent's artistic development continued, culminating in his first masterpiece, 'The Potato Eaters,' and his eventual move to Paris, where he was influenced by the Impressionist movement.

10:03

🌻 The Yellow House and Creative Flourishing

In this paragraph, Vincent's time at the Yellow House in Arles is detailed, showcasing his creative peak and the influence of Japanese art and philosophy on his work. His relationship with Paul Gauguin is explored, leading to a tragic incident that resulted in Vincent's self-inflicted ear injury. The paragraph also covers his time in the mental asylum, where he continued to paint prolifically, and the support he received from his brother Theo and his wife Johanna. Despite his mental health challenges, Vincent's work began to gain recognition, and he sold his first painting, 'The Red Vineyards,' during this period.

15:04

📜 Final Years and Posthumous Recognition

The final years of Vincent van Gogh's life are recounted here, including his time in Auvers-sur-Oise, his deepening depression, and the tragic events leading to his suicide. The paragraph also highlights the unwavering support from his brother Theo and Theo's wife Johanna, who played a crucial role in preserving and promoting Vincent's artwork after his death. The narrative concludes with the recognition of Vincent's genius by the art world and the financial success of his paintings, which provided for his family long after his passing.

20:06

🌟 Legacy and Impact on the Art World

This paragraph focuses on the legacy of Vincent van Gogh, from his unrecognized talent during his lifetime to his status as one of the greatest painters of all time. It discusses the efforts of Johanna, Theo's widow, in cataloging Vincent's extensive collection of paintings and letters, which provided insight into his life and character. The paragraph also mentions the significant sales of his artwork, such as the record-breaking price for 'Portrait of Dr. Gachet,' and the enduring appreciation for his work, which continues to inspire and captivate art lovers worldwide.

Keywords

💡Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh is the central figure of the video, a renowned Dutch painter known for his unique post-Impressionist style and emotional intensity. The video explores his life, struggles, and contributions to the art world. His name is pronounced differently in the UK and is a point of cultural interest mentioned at the beginning of the script.

💡Mental illness

Mental illness is a recurring theme in the video, referring to the psychological challenges van Gogh faced throughout his life. It is a critical aspect of understanding his personal struggles and how they influenced his art, as well as the broader context of his life story.

💡Impressionism

Impressionism is an art movement that had a significant impact on van Gogh's work. The video discusses how van Gogh was introduced to this style in Paris, which led to a shift in his use of color and light, resulting in some of his most famous paintings.

💡Theo van Gogh

Theo van Gogh, Vincent's brother, played a pivotal role in the artist's life, providing both emotional and financial support. The video highlights their close relationship and Theo's unwavering belief in Vincent's talent, despite the lack of recognition during Vincent's lifetime.

💡Post-Impressionism

Post-Impressionism is an art movement that emerged after Impressionism and is characterized by a more personal expression and the use of vivid colors and bold forms. Van Gogh is considered a pivotal figure in this movement, and the video discusses how his work evolved to reflect these characteristics.

💡Self-portraits

Self-portraits were a significant part of van Gogh's oeuvre, as they allowed him to practice his art without the cost of hiring models. The video mentions the numerous self-portraits he created, which also serve as a visual diary of his changing appearance and mental state over time.

💡Syphilis

Syphilis is mentioned in the script as a disease that van Gogh contracted, which had severe health implications for him. It is an example of the personal hardships he faced and how they may have affected his mental health and creative process.

💡Starry Night

Starry Night is one of van Gogh's most iconic paintings, which is mentioned in the video as a representation of his dreamy, imaginative style. The painting is a symbol of his enduring legacy and the profound impact of his work on the art world.

💡Mental asylum

The mental asylum, or psychiatric hospital, is a place where van Gogh spent time during his life. The video discusses his stay at the asylum, which provided a stable environment where he was able to create some of his most famous paintings.

💡Sunflowers

Sunflowers are a recurring motif in van Gogh's work and symbolize happiness and warmth. The video mentions the sunflower paintings he created to decorate the house for Gauguin's visit, reflecting his desire for a cheerful environment and his love for nature.

💡Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin was a French artist and van Gogh's friend, with whom he had a complex relationship. The video recounts their time living together and the artistic influence they had on each other, as well as the infamous incident that led to van Gogh's self-harm.

Highlights

Vincent van Gogh is pronounced differently in the UK, emphasizing the British pronunciation throughout the video.

Vincent van Gogh's life was marked by struggles with mental illness, yet he produced some of the most renowned artwork.

Growing up, Vincent was influenced by his mother's amateur art and the strict religious household of his father and grandfather.

Vincent's early career involved working in an art dealership, where he was exposed to great works of art and learned multiple languages.

A complex love life is suggested, with theories of Vincent's affections towards both a boarding house daughter and her mother.

Vincent's religious aspirations led him to become a minister, but his unorthodox methods led to his dismissal by the church.

At 27, Vincent decided to become an artist, with his brother Theo's financial support and encouragement.

Vincent's dedication to his art saw him painting every day, in contrast to other Impressionists who were more selective.

Vincent's mental health issues worsened, possibly exacerbated by his use of absinthe and other factors.

His relationship with prostitute Christina Maria Hornick, known as CN, led to Vincent contracting syphilis and gonorrhea.

Vincent's masterpiece 'The Potato Eaters' captured the essence of the poor and was a turning point in his artistic style.

In Paris, Vincent was introduced to the Impressionist movement, which greatly influenced his color palette and style.

Vincent's work ethic and passion for painting led to debates with other artists who had a more relaxed approach.

Paul Gauguin was a kindred spirit who encouraged Vincent's artistic exploration but their relationship ended abruptly.

Vincent's self-inflicted wound and subsequent hospitalization marked a severe decline in his mental state.

Theo's marriage and the birth of his son, also named Vincent, brought hope and a renewed sense of purpose to the artist.

Vincent's time at the asylum saw an improvement in his physical health and a prolific period of painting.

The first sale of Vincent's painting 'The Red Vineyards' for 400 francs was a significant milestone in his career.

Vincent's tragic death at 37 and the subsequent death of his brother Theo six months later left a legacy of art.

Joanna, Theo's widow, played a crucial role in preserving and promoting Vincent's artwork, leading to his posthumous fame.

Transcripts

just Booya starting I wanna head this

off at the pass in the UK we pronounce

this man as Vincent van Gogh not Vincent

van Gogh and going with the British

pronunciation throughout enjoy Vince van

Gogh was one of the greatest artists of

all time

but he just didn't know it despite his

struggles with mental illness he still

produced some of the greatest work that

anyone has ever seen what we all know

about his famous paintings few people

know the intimate details of the man's

life on today's by graphics we're gonna

delve into the passionate life of

Vincent van Gogh it's impossible to live

up to the deads but this is how Vincent

van Gogh began his life in a small

village called gruesome dirt in the

Netherlands in 1853 his parents Anna

Cornelia Cobb enters and Theodorus van

Gogh had a son who was stillborn who

they named Vincent vilhelm van Gogh one

year later they had a second son and

gave their new baby the same name

growing up Vincent would walk about with

his mother and see his own name engraved

on this dead brother's tombstone her

mother seemed to be traumatized by the

death of her first child and she was

never afraid to tell the stories of how

she lost him in her mind the real

Vincent was this perfect little angel in

heaven and no one could possibly compare

to him both his father and grandfather

were ministers for the Dutch Reformed

Church so it was a very strict household

to be raised in honor in Theodorus they

went on to have two more boys and three

girls Anna was most likely suffering

from depression because she was never

very loving or affectionate with any of

her children she never gave them love or

praise which made Vincent tries best to

be deserving of the love he craved Anna

was an amateur artist so she took her

children into the fields and instructed

them all to draw in their sketchbooks

Vincent loved to do this since he would

even carefully take bugs and plants home

with him so that he could finish the

drawing later Vincent was forced to

leave school at a very young age they

needed him to work as soon as possible

luckily his uncle was not dealer as a

firm called Coupole and C this was

obviously the best kind of

apprenticeship that Vincent van Gogh

could have hoped for

he was surrounded by a

amazing works of art and part of his job

was visiting museums to learn about the

other great masters he taught himself to

read and speak French German and English

fluently so that he could sell art to

clients all over Europe his brother Theo

was also made to work for the same art

dealership after completing his

apprenticeship Vincent was transferred

to one of the branches of the dealership

in London when he was 20 years old as he

moved into a boarding house owned by a

widow named Sarah Ursula lawyer her

daughter usually was 19 years old

Vincent wrote to his family that he was

very happy in the lawyer house he wrote

that he loved the hustle and bustle of

London and he did the gardening and

other trues to help the ladies around

the house now this is where the story

gets a little tricky historians tell the

story in a few different ways depending

on the evidence that they find some

believe Vincent fell in love with the

daughter usually since they were only a

year apart others believed that he was

actually in love with the mother which

would be far more scandalous this has

intrigued people for years and that was

even a play written about it called

Vincent in Brixton where they theorized

that he fell in love with both of them

either way he proposed marriage to one

of them only to learn that they were

engaged to other men Vincent was shocked

and tried to convince her to marry him

instead he began to argue asking what

was wrong with him their arguments were

so intense that he was kicked out of the

boarding house and told never to come

back

from age 20 to 23 Vinson started to read

the Bible every single day and he put

himself at a high standard of party

customers visiting the Gulen seed

gallery were told not to buy the artwork

obviously this is the exact opposite of

what Vincent should have been doing at

his jobs so he was fired he decided to

follow in his father's footsteps and

become a minister and he found a job

teaching at a Methodist school for boys

he applied to the School of Theology in

Amsterdam the school required everyone

to pass Lattin exams if he did not study

enough he would punish himself by

skipping meals or sleeping outside

considering that he was almost fluent in

several Latin based languages Vincent

should have been able to pass the test

quite easily Vincent van Gogh did not

care so much about which church he

belonged to he just wanted to preach the

Bible to the poor so he went to the

Evangelical Church of Belgium and he was

denied as well in 1878 he approached the

church and volunteered to go to the coal

mining towns in Brussels Belgium most

ordains ministers didn't want to go

there because it was one of the poorest

and dirtiest communities in the country

but these are the people's that van Gogh

really wanted to help while he lived

there he began to sketch the peasants

while they were working in the coal

mines the church had given him a

comfortable house to live in but there

was a local woman who was very sick and

could no longer work she could not

afford to pay her rent and had become

homeless Vincent van Gogh took pity on

her and gave the woman his house he

decided to go and live in one of the

coal mining shacks instead there was no

furniture in the shack and he was forced

to sleep on the bare wooden floor with

the blanket the locals called him the

Christ of the coal mines even though the

common people loved him the Church

Committee was humiliated they did not

want someone who was living in squalor

to represent their religion so they

decided to fire him

[Music]

without any real job skills to speak of

Vincent decided the one thing he truly

loved to do was paint instead of

preaching about God and the passion he

felt for the world he painted his

emotions instead now 27 years old

Vincent wrote a letter to his younger

brother Theo explaining that he wanted

to become an artist Theo was still

working at the art dealership he knew

that Vincent was truly talented and he

encouraged him to pursue his dream he

even offered to financially support his

endeavors to become an artist they had

an agreement that Theo would send

Vincent 50 francs a month for his basic

living expenses Vincent would then send

a number of paintings to Theo who was

allowed to keep any profits he may have

made from selling his brothers paintings

in the gallery he was incredibly

grateful for the opportunity and would

forego eating meals in favor of buying

more paints and canvases back then no

one really knew the dangers of lead

paint so he would use his mouth to wet

his paintbrush which would have

contributed to serious health issues

even though he resolved becoming a

painter Vincent still had to push

through his depression and his

self-doubt he once wrote if you hear a

voice within you said I cannot paint

then by all means paint and that voice

will be silenced

that same year Vincent fell in love with

the wrong person for a second time his

older first cousin named kevo Stricker

had just lost her husband and was still

mourning his death

Vincent proclaimed his love and proposed

to marry her promising to make her happy

not surprisingly he left his home and

fled to her parents house in Amsterdam

but Vincent wouldn't take no for an

answer and he followed her there

Vincent confronted his aunt and uncle

begging to speak with kee because he

thought that he could still convince her

to become his wife he claims that he

didn't need long to accomplish this and

put his hand over the gas flame saying

that he promised he would stop talking

when he couldn't stand the burning of

his flesh anymore they quickly blurred

the flame and told him to leave Vincent

moved to The Hague which was the centre

of the Dutch art movement at the time at

age 28 he completed his first oil

painting and sent it to Theo while

living there he met a prostitute named

Christina Maria Hornick who was also

called CN she was an alcoholic suffering

from syphilis and raising a

four-year-old daughter CN was also

pregnant with another man's child when

she met Vincent so she could not work as

a lady of the night

yet again his heart went out to women

who was suffering and he fell in love

with her he wrote to his brother Theo

that he

enjoyed feeling like he was needed so

Theo agreed to increase his monthly step

ends so Vincent could take care of her

and the children financially CN began

modeling for him as the subject in his

drawings in a way this was very helpful

because he could not afford to harm

models but no surprises here he caught

both syphilis and gonorrhea from her the

pain was so excruciating that he had to

be hospitalized while he was in hospital

sein had no loyalty to Vincent's she

went back to selling herself on the

streets Vincent van Gogh was already

having issues with his mental health but

syphilis is known for causing madness

when Theo learned about this scandal he

threatened to cut off Vincent

financially if he did not end his

relationship he knew that Vincent had a

huge heart and that he was being taken

advantage of so he was forced to break

up with her and she left the Haig

in 1885 Vincent van Gogh painted a piece

called the potato eaters when he was 33

years old today it's considered one of

his first masterpieces because it truly

captures the emotions of these farm

workers and he had successfully captured

the essence of the poor it hopes that

his brother would be able to sell it

because it was similar to the dark

paintings done by the Dutch masters

however it was not a popular style in

Paris which is where Theo was living and

selling the work they would send letters

back and forth with Theo sketching out

examples of Monet because their work was

actually selling very well Vincent van

Gogh had never heard of him but it was

intrigued to see the work once he

arrived in Paris Theo brought him to the

art gallery so that you could see all

the work that he had mentioned in the

lattice Vincent was blown away by the

beautiful impressionist art movement

Vincent immediately understood why the

style was so popular and he swapped out

his dark hues for vibrant colors Theo

also introduced him to various painters

that are famous today hiring a model was

very expensive so he and his friends

would pose one another so they could

practice this is why there are so many

self-portraits of Vincent van Gogh he

often had no one else to model for him

so he had to look in the mirror his

postman Joseph or in-law often agreed to

certain Tevez portrait painted - getting

into long discussions with Van Gogh most

of the Impressionists would only paint

on days when the weather was beautiful

they cared a lot about finding the

perfect light they also understood the

market really well so they could sell

their paintings and make enough money to

live for months at a time they would

party and wait for inspiration to strike

Vincent van Gogh was the polar opposite

he had a very strong work ethic and he

was willing to paint every single day in

order to get better at his craft this

caused him to get into a lot of debates

because he believed that none of the

other artists shared the same level of

passion that he did he once wrote I feel

such a creative force in me I am

convinced that there will be a time when

I will make something good every day on

a regular basis I am doing my very best

to make every effort because I am

longing so much to make beautiful things

but beautiful things mean painstaking

work disappointment and perseverance

Theo often has to apologize on behalf of

instance outbursts the only artist in

the group who actually felt inspired by

Vincent's determination was Paul Gauguin

encouraged Vincent loosen up and

encouraged

him to start drinking a green liquor

called absinthe if you're unaware

absinthe can cause hallucinations and it

would have only contributed to more

problems in Vincents mental health

always determined to improve his style

he began studying Japanese art it was

almost as if he could see the soul

behind the painter so he felt determined

to read books on Buddhist philosophy he

wished that he could move there and told

the other Impressionists about it

toulouse-lautrec told him that the

French countryside had a very similar

look to Japanese countryside and

encouraged him to move there instead so

he traveled to a town called al it was

truly beautiful and it motivated Vincent

to paint even more than before

[Music]

once he arrived in our Vincent found a

yellow house with a very cheap rent of

just 15 francs a month he spent most

days painting in isolation surviving on

a diet consisting mostly of cheap bread

and coffee at nights he would drink

absinthe there were points when he had

absolutely no food so he started to

drink the turpentine paint thinner and

eat paint this began to do some serious

damage to his nervous system and his

mental state was in rapid decline Theo

was worried about him and paid gurgaon

nurse tippin's to live and work with

Vincent's in all when he found out that

he was coming Vincent filled up the

house with sunflowers so that it was

bright and cheerful for his best friend

he had been alone for so long he stopped

painting under the influence of the

other impressionist artists in Paris now

the work was completely original it was

the best that it had ever been at first

Paul and Vincent were getting along just

fine as roommates but since Vincent's

mental state was disintegrating he would

initiate arguments with him and things

became very uncomfortable see I wrote a

letter to go again that a few of his

paintings had been sold in Paris and

sympton several hundred francs during

one particularly bad fight porygon left

the yellow house with his luggage

announcing that he was taking the train

back to Paris as he was walking down the

street of all

juergen heard footsteps running behind

him when he turned around he saw Vincent

van Gogh holding an open razor blade the

two friends froze and stared at each

other like deer caught in the headlights

in that moment

Vincent snapped out of it and realized

the insanity of what he was doing he

turned around and ran away

Paul Gauguin hurried toward the train

station and never spoke to Vincent again

a few hours later

Vincent showed up to the local brothel

the side of his face was bleeding he

handed one of the prostitutes an object

asking her to take good care of it when

a woman looked down in her open palm she

saw that he had handed her his only ax

[Music]

the police showed up a Vincent's house

the next day and they took him to the

hospital so that he could be treated for

the open wound we're in here used to be

when his younger brother Theo arrived

Vincent was laying in bed and he began

having seizures he was physically weak

and completely delusional Thea wrote a

letter to their mother and sisters

explaining that Vincent was very sick

and that he might die he wrote that he

completely blamed himself for not coming

to visit Vincent sooner to check on his

well-being after spending two weeks in

the hospital Vincent was released he

returned to his small yellow house and

felt very much alone Theo had waited

until Vincent's recovery to tell him the

news that he was engaged her name was

Joanna Banga she was an accomplished

piano player who gave public

performances and she worked at the

British Museum library Theo and Joanna

both shared a passion for the arts and

they were very happy together instead of

being happy about the news Vincent saw

it as a sign that he would soon lose

Theo's support and they would come a day

when he would no longer spend time with

him gossip spreads like wildfire in a

small town so the citizens of all were

whispering about the air incidents they

believed that Vincent van Gogh was a

threat to himself and others so they

signed a petition saying that they

wanted him to be locked in a cell in the

hospital he wrote a letter to his

brother Theo asking if he could be

transferred to person tremie Asylum

which would be a far more comfortable

location than a cell he also sent him

two large crates full of his paintings

saying in a letter to Theo that he knew

his life as a painter was probably never

going to happen and he hoped that he

could become employed as a hospital

orderly in the asylum or any other job

that he could possibly find but Theo

never gave up on Vincent's talent he

knew that the only thing that made his

brother happy was painting so he paid

for two comfortable rooms side by side

one was used as his art studio and the

other to be used as his living quarters

the son Remi convents in hospital and

beautiful gardens which is where Vincent

would go to spend most of his time

painting he stayed sober and was fed

three meals a day his physical health

was finally beginning to improve finally

after years of going unrecognized

Vincent van Gogh received a letter from

Theo saying that his paintings were

going on display in an archer in Paris

one of the paintings called the red

vineyards sold for 400 francs this was

the first time that anyone had ever paid

money for one of his paintings and to

put a small dent into reimbursing Theo

for the money

he had invested for so many years

Vincent had been afraid that marriage

would come between his relationship with

Theo but it was actually the opposite

Joanna understood and supported

Vincent's art career as well after Theo

and Johanna got married and had their

first son Vincent came to visit he had a

gift for the baby a painting called the

blossoming almond tree which represented

spring and new life as he held his tiny

nephew in his arms for the first time

they told him that the baby's name was

Vincent vilhelm van Gogh overwhelmed by

the honor

Vincent started crying tears of joy and

that truly was hope that things would

get better with all the Vincent's new

hope and optimism about life Theo

believed that his brother's health may

have been improving so he helped him

leave the asylum and find a place to

live in the town of Mercer

he chose an apartments living above a

doctor named Paul Gautier who was an

amateur painter and a huge supporter of

the impressionist movement

Theo hopes that by living with dr.

Gachet he could live an independent life

but still be close to medical care

whenever he needed dr. Gachet knew that

Vincent had gonorrhea and syphilis but

he didn't know about his history of

mental issues for a while things seemed

to be fine Vincent had dinner and

pleasant conversations with gachet's

family and painted the portraits of his

new friends and neighbors on July the

27th 1890 Vinson received a letter from

Theo where he said that he was

struggling selling paintings that month

he was simply venting and never said

that he would stop helping Vincent

financially Theo even included the usual

50 francs but even the mention of

financial difficulties sent Vincent into

a downward spiral of self-hatred he felt

he was a burden on the ones he loved the

most and that they would be better off

without him Vincent found a loaded

pistol and walked out into the middle of

a field before shooting himself in the

chest bleeding and in shock Vincent

realized that he was still alive he had

barely missed his heart he slowly

stumbled back to the house where dr.

Gachet began to operate immediately the

doctor sent a message for Theo to come

on the next train when he arrived

Theo found his brother sitting up in bed

Vincent was covered in bandages and

smoking his pipe

Theo crawled into bed next to his

brother and they stayed up all night

talking about the happy memories from

their childhood as they were falling

asleep

Vincent said this is just like when we

were home please take me home

thia agreed to take him back to their

little Dutch village as soon as he

recovered but it would never happen

Vincent died in his sleep at 37 years

old they covered his coffin in bright

yellow sunflowers just six months later

Theo died as well because he had

secretly been suffering from syphilis

too

the brothers were buried side by side

Theo's widow Johanna was left with

almost nothing except their young son

and a huge collection of Vincent van

Gogh paintings as she went through his

crate of these so-called rejects she

found the starry nights which he had

painted while looking out the window at

the mental asylum Vincent attached a

letter explaining the painting looking

at the Stars

always makes me dream this simply as I

dream over the black dots representing

towns and villages on a map just as we

take a train to get to Terrace or or

ruin we take a death to reach a star we

can now get to a star while we are alive

any more of them we can take the train

when we are dead to die quietly of old

age would be to go there on foot

Johanna carefully catalogued Vincent's

work she also collected his letters

which is why we have so much information

about the kind of person he was

Johanna began to go across the continent

to all the places where Vincent had

lived trying to find any of his

paintings so that she could keep track

of them most people had written Vincent

off as a madman so they neither

destroyed the paintings or given them

away Chiana was able to catalogue over

2100 sketches and pieces of art 860 of

which were all paintings that does not

include all the ones who were lost or

destroyed Vincent van Gogh smother Anna

was still rejecting him even after his

death she burns an entire crate of her

son's work but she lived long enough to

witness just how wrong she was and the

entire world began to realize he was

truly a genius with Donna's help the

paintings finally began to sell and his

lifetime of prolific work supported his

family for the rest of their lives today

van Gogh work is truly worth a fortune

and the portrait of dr. Gachet sold for

eighty two point five million dollars

even to this day his paintings still

fetch tens of millions of dollars he is

considered to be one of the greatest

painters of all time despite all of his

struggles Vincent van Gogh spent his

life with passion and was devoted to the

things he loved and even after

attempting suicide he still found a

reason to live it is good to love

many things for therein lies the true

strength and whosoever loves much

performs much and can accomplish much

and what is done in love is done well so

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