Vincent van Gogh

Revolutionary post-impressionist painter who transformed modern art through emotional expression

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) remains one of history's most influential artists despite selling only a few paintings during his lifetime. His unique brushwork and vibrant color palette broke from 19th-century artistic conventions, directly inspiring Expressionism and modern abstract art.

Van Gogh's emotional authenticity set him apart - he painted 2,100 artworks in just 10 years, including masterpieces like The Starry Night and Sunflowers. His letters to brother Theo reveal a tortured genius seeking truth through art. Though plagued by mental illness, he developed revolutionary techniques like impasto (thick paint application) that gave physical form to emotional states.