NEXT-GEN Nescot week 8 - Artist inspiration part 1 (Information about the artist)

Personally, my favorite artist is Vincent (William) Van Gogh. Van Gogh is a famous dutch artist who, in just over a decade, created about 2,100 (most of which were made in the last two years of his life). His paintings mainly consist of landscapes, still life, portraits and self portraits, these are made with bold, outstanding complementary colours and impressive brush-work that helped shape the foundations of modern art. He committed suicide at 37 on the 27th of July 1890 due to years of mental illness and poverty. 

Vincent Van Gogh was born into a upper-middle class family on the 30th of March 1853. He was a member of the protestant church and first worked as an art dealer, but fell into depression once he transferred to London. He lived in ill health and solitude until he began painting in 1881 and he moved back home with is parents while his younger brother supported him financially and maintained a close relationship by letter.

At the start of his art career he mostly made still-life and depictions of peasant labourers, these did not show the vivid color that distinguished his later work and future fame. In 1886 he moved to Paris where he met members of the "avant-garde" (a member of this group was Paul Gauguin) who were reacting against the impressionist sensibility. As his work developed he created a new approach to still life and local landscapes. His paintings became brighter in colour as he developed a style that was realized during his stay in Arles (in the south of France during 1888). During this period he widened his subject matter to include olive trees, wheat fields and sunflowers.

Van Gogh suffered from psychotic episodes and delusions, however, although he worried about his mental stability, he often neglected his physical health. His friendship ultimately ended with Gauguin when, in a rage, Van Gogh severed part of his own left ear. This psychotic episode led him to spent time in psychiatric hospitals including a period at Saint-Rémy.

After he discharged himself and moved to the Auberge Ravoux in Auvers-sur-Oise near Paris, he came under the care of doctor named "Paul Gachet". Unfortunately, his depression still continued and on the 27th of July 1890 Van Gogh shot himself in the chest with a revolver. He died from his injuries two days later.