From his incredible Starry Night to the large number of portraits, Vincent van Gogh is, without a doubt, one of the most relevant artists in the history of art. We will probably find information about his masterpieces, his technique and other aspects of his work, but in Super curious we want to tell you some curiosities about the life of Van Gogh.
Do you know who Vincent Van Gogh was? What exists behind his work? Beyond the artist, who was the person? Here you will learn a little more, and you will surely find impressive information about the tragic life of the Dutch painter. Come with us to learn some curiosities about Van Gogh!
10 Curious facts you may not know about Vincent Van Gogh
Born in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands, Van Gogh is one of the artists who has gone down in history under a mantle of recognition and admiration, but his life was rather a path full of disappointments and sadness.
1. Vincent Van Gogh had more than four love tragedies
Van Gogh did not despise life, in his letters – of which more than 700 have come to light – he frequently wrote about his desire to find love. «I would like to be with a woman for a change, I can’t live without love, without a woman. He would not value life at all if there were not something infinite, something deep, something real. »
On several occasions he mentioned that «It would be more worthwhile to make children than paintings.» His first love was Ursula Loyer, although she married another. Her cousin Kee, who was already her mother and widow, rejected him in part because he had nothing to care for her and her child. He also tried to build a relationship with a prostitute named Sien, but eventually left her because her brother Theo asked him to.
At the age of 21 he had a relationship with Marguerite Gachet, but the girl’s father prevented the relationship from continuing. Among the curiosities of Van Gogh, the great passion he felt for get the love, not only of a woman, but also that of her family and friends.
2. The Japanese print was one of its great influences
The artistic genre known as «Ukiyo-e»born in the 17th century and meaning «images of the floating world», is almost unknown in the West but… We know its great exponents! Does it sound familiar to you The Great Wave from Kanagawa? This work is, in fact, one of the best known among the great works of art.
In the 1850s all Japanese culture became known to the world. One of those who most fascinated was Van Gogh, his inspiration is reflected in the color palette, with flat tones and no shadows. These works meant, according to some letters from Vincent sent to Theo, a joy and happiness for the artist.
In 1888 he went to Arles, from where he wrote to Theo: «All my works are based on some Japanese art.» The Dutch artist was so attracted to the prints. that he was not only inspired, but copied Ando Hiroshige on several occasions.
3. The great Vincent Van Gogh became a preacher
Can you imagine the world without one Starry Night or without The sunflowers? Well, within our list of curious facts about Van Gogh, we tell you that, the great Dutch artist was almost not an artist. Her plans for him were totally different! Van Gogh intended to be an evangelical pastor and even became a lay preacher in Belgium.
He did not plan his future as an artist until the moment he was fired from his job. His first works were made when he was 27 years old and he never received formal education.
4. He had an obsession with portraits
One of Van Gogh’s great ambitions throughout his artistic career was be a painter of the human figure, especially the face. Just as the eyes are the door to the soul, For Van Gogh the face is knowing the artist. Although it is one of his most notable curiosities (due to the large number of self-portraits he made), the great Dutch artist was limited when it came to fulfilling this desire.
The insufficiency in his education and the low budget he had to hire models did not allow him to exploit that passion one hundred percent. However, portraiture became an increasingly important component. In 1888 Van Gogh was writing about the portrait revolution and why the avant-garde would win over the public with its use. Once again, this curious fact allows us to see the restless and purposeful mind of the artist.
5. There were more Vincent Van Goghs
We usually think that Van Gogh, as we know him, there was only one, but no. One of the curiosities of Van Gogh is named Vincent in honor of his brother, who soon died.. It should be noted that among his predecessors there were four other characters who had the same name.
A brother of the painter’s father who – as a curious fact, was dedicated to the art trade -, the paternal grandfather and, finally, the great-uncle of the painter’s father. Some experts claim that being named Vincent after other people, influenced Van Gogh’s illness because of the loss of identity that this could have caused him.
6. There are three paintings from «Van Gogh’s bedroom in Arles»
Van Gogh made three almost identical paintings about his bedroom in Arles. The first is in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which dates from October 1888 and rewas damaged due to a flood.
A year later, he made two more copies: one is in the Art Institute of Chicago and the other in the Orsay Museum. In one of her letters, she explained to Theo: «I wanted to express tranquility and highlight the simplicity of the bedroomusing the symbolism of colors.»
7. A new work every 36 hours
Although he only worked 10 years of his life, from the ages of 27 to 37 (which was the age at which he died), Van Gogh’s artistic production was truly enormous. He was a very active and prolific person, who produced more than 900 paintings, drawings, watercolors… According to statistics, to produce the number of works in that period of years, it was necessary: create a new work every 36 hours!
8. The colors of the works reflect the artist’s emotions
Colors were the magic in his paintings, always strong and complementary tones. Van Gogh was seduced by the use of color, and in his works he transmits to us each of the feelings that invaded him when painting. As we know, Van Gogh was one of the pioneers of post-impressionism and was heavily influenced by color theory.
The blue tones complemented the reds and the color is enhanced by the short, thick brushstrokes. Van Gogh is pure energy and the turbulence of the painting hints at the artist’s tormented life.
9.The starry Night is it a failure?
One of the best-known curiosities about Van Gogh is that, during his life, he did not enjoy the slightest recognition. However, when he painted his most famous work, The starry Night, He considered it a complete failure.. In 1888, during his stay in Arles, he painted another starry night, of which he was most proud.
The starry night over the River Rhone has a fundamental aspect that The starry Night No: people! Even so, The starry Night He has obtained maximum artistic success and the admiration of many people around the world.
10. Van Gogh was a man of letters
In addition to creating hundreds and hundreds of works of art, he can be credited with almost the same number of written letters. Most of them were addressed to Theo Van Gogh, who was his brother and his patron. The great Dutch artist spent hours writingwith this he managed to vent the deep sadness that he carried inside him.
One of the curiosities of Van Gogh’s letters is that In some you can see the first sketches of many of his works.among them the most famous like the room in Arles.
The great Dutch painter died very young and He did not live to enjoy the success of his worknor witness the deep admiration that he awakens in many of those who enjoy his art. Do you know some other curiosities about Van Gogh? We read you! And, in case you want to read more about this artist, we recommend: What is the true story of Van Gogh’s ear?