Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) was born in Zundert in Brabant, where his father was a pastor. His uncles were art dealers and Vincent began his career working for them. After several years in the art trade, he became a lay preacher in England and later on he spent time to missionary work in Belgium. In 1880, he decided to become an artist. At The Hague and Nuenen he painted still lifes, landscapes and scenes from village life in sombre colors. Van Gogh settled in Paris, after a short period of study in Antwerp. Inspired by Impressionism and Pointillism, he developed his personal style of separate streaks of paint and bright colors. In 1888, Van Gogh moved to Arles in the South of France. Mental illness led to several periods in hospital. Between these crises he continued to paint feverishly, until his death in 1890.