BIRTH | Mar. 30–Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890

This day was born in 1853, in Zundert, the Netherlands, Vincent Van Gogh.

His work was beginning to be acknowledged by art critics in Holland when he committed suicide at the age of 37.

His brother Theo was an art dealer, and for years sent money to Vincent in return for the paintings that Vincent gave him.

Garrison Keillor quotes from one of Vincent's letters:

How much sadness there is in life. The right thing is to work.

In another letter, two days before he died, Vincent wrote:

I feel a failure. That's it as far as I'm concerned - I feel that this is the destiny that I accept, that will never change.

I have posted previously challenging the assertion that Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting in his life. His financial arrangement with his brother was not just charity – it was in large measure a professional one. Vincent painted because he was encouraged to do so by his brother, who was an expert at judging paintings.

Sometimes all it takes is one good patron to sustain the creativity of an artist.