Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
The Starry Night by van Gogh (1889) - perhaps his most famous work
Sunflowers by van Gogh (1888)
Grave of Vincent and brother Theo
July 27th 1890: Vincent van Gogh shoots himself
On this day in 1890, the artist Vincent van Gogh shot himself in the chest with a revolver in Auvers-sur-Oise in northern France. Born in 1853 in Zundert in the Netherlands, the young van Gogh had a keen interest in art, and continued to draw and paint into adulthood. As an adult van Gogh traveled extensively throughout Europe, exploring different art scenes and becoming especially affected by the French Impressionists. Despite his talent and distinctive art style, van Gogh was unappreciated in his lifetime, and failed to find financial success. The struggling artist also suffered from mental health issues throughout his life, infamously cutting off his ear - though this was most likely by accident and not an irrational act of love as often suggested - and eventually shooting himself aged just thirty-seven. The shot did not cause serious damage to his internal organs, but van Gogh died two days later from infection in the wound. At his funeral, van Gogh’s body was surrounded by his paintings and sunflowers, which often featured in his work. In his tragically short life van Gogh left an impressive selection of work, with over 2,000 pieces of art attributed to him. Van Gogh was little known when he died, but due to the rediscovery of his art he is now a household name, praised for his unique style, bold colours, and emotionality.
“The sadness will last forever”
- Vincent van Gogh’s last words
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