Vincent Willem Van Gogh: Famous Dutch Artist

Vincent Willem van Gogh, born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zunderch, Netherlands, would one day be considered one of the worlds greatest Dutch painters. However, as talented and intelligent as he was, he would remain poor throughout his life. He knew four languages, had natural talent as an artist, chose a life in the ministry, but did not conform to others ideology or expectations. He refused to take Latin exams as he believed it to be a “dead language of poor people”. Unfortunately, he also had issues with his mental health that could be traced back to his childhood due to mistreatment aided by his mother as he was named after his older brother who was a still born. There was a sense of resentment within the family that left a strong impression …show more content…
His mental stability eventually came back into question after his family cut him off financially due to his troubling relationship with Clasina Maria Hoornik, who was a single mother, alcoholic, and prostitute. This relationship and fallout eventually led to another bout of severe depression. Throughout his ups and downs with depression, art was the one thing that offered him a sense of balance. However, he became so enveloped in his passion for art that he began to pay for paint instead of food to eat which led to his brother, Theo becoming very concerned for his well being and mental health. Theo had sent Paul Gaugin to watch over Vincent van Gogh, but they often argued until the night that he became so unstable that he went to a brothel where he cut his ear off in an attempt to give a prostitute named Rachel. This event in particular is what led to becoming hospitalized. Eventually, the people of Arles, where he resided when out of the hospital, signed a petition, which stated that Vincent van Gogh was dangerous and mentally unstable. After the petition was signed, he chose to relocate to the Saint Paul de Mausole Asylum in Saint Rémy de Provence. …show more content…
He painted it from behind the barred window of his room in the asylum. His brush strokes have such depth that it brings the nights sky to life. He was always inclined to showing bright light in his paintings from his piece called, Sunflowers to Mona Lisa. The lighting he portrays always seems to play a pivotal role in the piece as a whole and this particular painting was with no exception. He viewed the night sky as a place of peace and saw it as a foundation to finding inner peace. Vincent van Gogh wrote once in a letter to his brother, Theo “Looking at the stars always makes me dream, as simply as I dream over the black dots representing towns and villages on a map. Why, I ask myself, shouldn’t the shining dots of the sky be as accessible as the black dots on the map of France? Just as we take the train to get to Tarascon or Rouen, we take death to reach a star.” He was able to identify with the nights sky and stars and understand it in a deeper sense. He saw the circle of life and death through the night’s