Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh sold one painting in his lifetime.

One.

Is that not insane?

The Red Vineyard. He sold it in Brussels for 400 Francs a few months before his death.

Between November of 1881 and July of 1890, Van Gogh created 900 paintings. 900 paintings and he was only able to sell one. And people wonder what drove him mad.

Today his artwork sells more than any other artist among all art prints. The world is a cruel and unjust place.

He didn't even know he wanted to be an artist, didn't even know he had the talent. When he finished his schooling he went to work for his uncle as an art dealer. Eventually he decided he did not like the business of art so he took a wack at theology, inspired by his father who was a pastor. He failed exams to get him into school to study theology.

Meanwhile his brother Theo had been pressuring him to become an artist. Who knows why, who knows what his motives were, who knows what he saw.

Pretty strange route to becoming one of the world's most influential artists.

As he tried to develop a style, his first major work was called The Potato Eaters. Reminds me of the Three Stooges - Maid On A Night Out Winding A Grandfather Clock With Her Left Hand.

Anyway this painting was a conscious effort to make a name for himself in the artistic community. It is completely different than the work he became famous for. The painting is of five figures - four women and a man -  sitting around a square table eating potatoes. It is dark, no bright colors, no impressionistic style. Still, it is a cool painting; definitely captures a mood.

The painting did not get him the attention he wanted, so he began to study art in an academy in Antwerp. Soon after he moved to Paris to live with his brother Theo. It was there he became immersed in the world of impressionist and post impressionist painters. It was there he dropped the dark tones and began experimenting with brighter more vibrant colors.

Van Gogh had a dream of establishing an artists' colony, so he moved to Arles and convinced Paul Gaugin to join him there. They lived and painted together. Sometimes standing side by side painting the same scene and comparing interpretations.

Can you even imagine that scenario? Van Gogh and Gaugin painting side by side? Unbelievable.

The website vangoghgallery.com describes the man as follows: "....this boy would be tormented by severe mental instability for the majority of his life, die from his own hands, and ultimately change the outlook on art for the rest of history. His life was to become one of uncertainty and madness, involving largely his own need to find a niche and the undeniable love for art."

Living with Gaugin seemed to tip the scales psychologically. At first they were dedicated to the same pursuit but after a short time Gaugin began to move away from impressionism and Van Gogh saw his dreams of an artists' colony go down the drain. When Gaugin told him he was planning on leaving, Van Gogh chased him with a razor as Gaugin left the house for a walk. Gaugin spent the night in a hotel.

Later that night, Van Gogh sliced off part of his ear and wrapped it in newspaper. He wrapped the wound, pulled a hat down over it, and walked to a nearby brothel. Legend has it he asked for a girl named Rachel, handed her the ear wrapped in newspaper and said "Guard this object carefully."

This was 1888. In 1890, Van Gogh attempted suicide by shooting himself in the chest. He survived initially but died two days later from the wound. He was 37.

Van Gogh is regarded as the ultimate tortured artist. He is also obviously regarded as one of the world's greatest and most influential artists.

The argument is eternal. Do you need to suffer to create beauty?

My opinion, off stated and however humble, is that creative people are naturally sensitive and this world ain't no place for the sensitive.

But what the hell do I know.

This was a complex man, full of passion, head swirling with demons, who created stunningly beautiful art.

No need to over analyze it. Just dig his contribution to making your life softer and gentler.