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BY MARK ANDERSON
Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous names in art history, recognized globally for his emotive brushstrokes, vivid colors, and works like Starry Night and Sunflowers. However, behind his iconic images lies a life and artistic journey filled with complexities that often get overshadowed by his legendary status. Here, we dive into some of the lesser-known aspects of Van Gogh’s life, work, and influence—offering a new perspective on the master.
Van Gogh Only Sold One Painting During His Lifetime
Despite being one of the most celebrated artists today, Van Gogh saw little success in his own time. The idea that he lived and died without selling his work is a bit of a myth, but he did sell only one painting during his lifetime—The Red Vineyard—which was purchased in 1890 for 400 francs by Belgian painter Anna Boch. For the most part, his work was either given away or kept by his brother, Theo, who tirelessly supported him both financially and emotionally.
He Was Influenced by Japanese Art
Van Gogh had a profound admiration for Japanese woodblock prints, which significantly influenced his work. Known as ukiyo-e, these prints were characterized by bold outlines, flat areas of color, and depictions of nature, all elements that Van Gogh incorporated into his own art. He amassed a collection of Japanese prints, even creating his own versions of them, such as his take on The Courtesan by Keisai Eisen. In letters to his brother Theo, Van Gogh frequently expressed his fascination with Japanese aesthetics and how it shaped his use of color and composition.
He Once Dreamed of Becoming a Pastor
Before dedicating his life to art, Van Gogh was deeply religious and even aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps as a pastor. In fact, Vincent took theology courses and briefly became a missionary in the coal-mining district of Borinage, Belgium. While there, he famously gave away most of his possessions to help the poor, leading to his dismissal for “excessive zeal.” His time in Borinage, however, was pivotal—it was there that he began to draw seriously, sketching miners and local people, ultimately marking the beginning of his journey as an artist.
Van Gogh Was a Polyglot
Though Vincent van Gogh is often remembered as a tormented artist, he was also an intellectual who spoke several languages. He was fluent in Dutch, French, and English, and had a decent understanding of German. During his early years, while working as an art dealer in London and Paris, Van Gogh read the works of Shakespeare, Dickens, and George Eliot in their original English, and corresponded with friends and family in multiple languages. This linguistic ability reflected a cultured, thoughtful side that contrasts with the popular image of a man consumed by madness.
His Artistic Career Was Incredibly Short
Though Van Gogh produced over 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, his career as a painter was remarkably short. He only started painting seriously at the age of 27 and produced the bulk of his masterpieces within a ten-year span. Even more striking, many of his most famous works—like Starry Night and Irises—were completed in the last two years of his life, between 1888 and 1890. This prolific output, despite his mental and physical struggles, is a testament to his relentless passion for art.
He Often Reused Canvases
One of the more practical but lesser-known facts about Van Gogh is that he frequently reused canvases due to his financial limitations. X-rays of his paintings have revealed that some of his most well-known works were painted over earlier pieces. In some cases, entire portraits or landscapes were found hidden beneath the final composition. For instance, underneath Patch of Grass (1887), there’s a portrait of an unknown woman. This resourcefulness adds another layer of depth to his body of work—literally.
The Famous Ear Incident Is Still Misunderstood
Most people know the story of Van Gogh cutting off his ear, but the details are still debated. The widely accepted version is that Van Gogh severed part of his left ear during a mental breakdown in 1888, following a heated argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin. However, some researchers suggest that it was not self-inflicted, and that Gauguin may have been involved in the incident, possibly during a sword fight. What is less known is what happened afterward—Van Gogh reportedly wrapped the severed part of his ear and gave it to a woman at a local brothel. This event marked a turning point in his deteriorating mental health and preceded his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum.
Van Gogh Was Obsessed with Painting the Night
While Starry Night is his most famous nocturnal work, Van Gogh had a deep fascination with painting nighttime scenes. He found the night “richer in color than the day,” and created several works depicting starry skies, including Café Terrace at Night and Starry Night Over the Rhône. Van Gogh would often paint these scenes outdoors, using gas lamps to light his easel, a practice that was unusual at the time. His dedication to capturing the beauty and mystery of the night was both revolutionary and reflective of his intense emotional connection to nature.
His Death Remains a Mystery
It is generally believed that Van Gogh took his own life in 1890, shooting himself in the chest while painting in a wheat field in Auvers-sur-Oise. However, in recent years, some art historians and biographers have questioned this narrative. A 2011 biography by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith proposed that Van Gogh may have been accidentally shot by local boys playing with a gun, suggesting that the artist didn’t commit suicide but rather accepted his fate after the incident. The exact circumstances of his death remain unresolved, adding an element of mystery to his tragic end.
Vincent van Gogh’s legacy is often distilled into a handful of familiar stories—his mental illness, his struggle for recognition, and his dramatic use of color. Yet, beneath the surface of these popular narratives, there are countless facets of his life and work that remain relatively unknown. From his multilingualism and religious aspirations to his obsession with Japanese art and the mysteries surrounding his death, Van Gogh’s story is far more complex than the myth of the tortured genius. These hidden dimensions only enrich our appreciation for his art, showing us that even the most celebrated figures in history still hold secrets.
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