Gogh

Gogh commonly refers to Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch post-impressionist painter whose expressive use of color and dynamic brushwork helped shape modern Western art. He produced about 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, most of them in the last decade of his life.

Born on 30 March 1853 in Zundert, the Netherlands, van Gogh pursued art with a largely self-directed approach after brief attempts at other careers. He lived and worked in several cities, with a formative period in Paris (1886–1888) that exposed him to contemporary movements such as Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism and to Japanese prints. This exposure contributed to his move from dark tones to brighter palettes and more vigorous textural brushstrokes.

Van Gogh is best known for landscapes, still lifes, and portraits rooted in everyday subject matter. Notable works include Starry Night (1889), Sunflowers (1888), and The Bedroom (1888). He frequently painted scenes from the areas where he lived, including Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, and often used thick applications of paint, or impasto, to convey emotion and movement.

His career was marked by struggle with mental health and a period of hospitalization. In 1888, he famously severed part of his own ear after a conflict in Arles. He was supported economically and emotionally by his brother Theo van Gogh, who remained a steady advocate for his work.

Vincent van Gogh died on 29 July 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, from a gunshot wound, generally regarded as self-inflicted, at age 37. His reputation grew rapidly after his death, and he is now celebrated as a foundational figure in modern art, influencing numerous movements and continuing to inspire museums, scholarship, and popular culture.