Vincent van Gogh's Milestones

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter, creator of masterpieces like Starry Night, whose expressive art and struggles with mental health left a profound mark on modern painting.
1853

Birth

Vincent van Gogh was born in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands, to Theodorus van Gogh and Anna Cornelia Carbentus.

Family March 30, 1853
1860

Early education and family

Received home education, attended boarding schools in Zevenbergen and Tilburg; unhappy childhood, began drawing early.

Education January 1, 1860 - March 1, 1868
1869

Worked as art dealer

Worked for art dealers Goupil & Cie in The Hague, London, and Paris; early exposure to the art world.

Career July 1, 1869 - April 1, 1876
1876

Religious studies and teaching

Worked as a teacher and minister's assistant in England; became increasingly religious and aspired to be a pastor.

Other April 1, 1876 - January 1, 1879
1879

Lay preacher and missionary

Served as a missionary in the Borinage coal-mining district in Belgium; lived in poverty and was dismissed for extreme devotion.

Career January 1, 1879 - July 1, 1880
1880

Decided to become an artist

Decided to pursue art full-time, encouraged by his brother Theo; briefly studied at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.

Other August 1, 1880
1881

Early artistic development

Returned to Etten, developed drawing skills, fell in love with cousin Kee Vos-Stricker (unrequited); studied with Anton Mauve in The Hague; lived with Sien Hoornik.

Achievement April 1, 1881 - September 1, 1883
1883

Moved to Nuenen

Lived with parents in Nuenen; painted rural life, created The Potato Eaters; father's death in 1885.

Location December 1, 1883 - November 1, 1885
1885

Moved to Antwerp

Moved to Antwerp, studied at Academy of Fine Arts, broadened palette, suffered illness and poverty.

Location November 1, 1885 - February 28, 1886
1886

Moved to Paris

Moved to Paris, lived with Theo; met Impressionists and Neo-Impressionists, adopted brighter palette, befriended Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Signac.

Location March 1, 1886 - February 1, 1888
1888

Artistic breakthrough in Arles

Moved to Arles, created masterpieces including Sunflowers, The Night Café, Bedroom in Arles; hoped to found an artists' colony.

Achievement February 21, 1888 - May 8, 1889

Collaboration and conflict with Gauguin

Lived and painted with Paul Gauguin in Arles; relationship ended after quarrels and Van Gogh's mental crisis.

Relationship October 23, 1888 - December 23, 1888

Severe mental health crisis

Suffered breakdown, cut off part of his ear, hospitalized in Arles; periods of lucidity and relapse.

Other December 23, 1888 - May 8, 1889
1889

Admitted to asylum in Saint-Rémy

Voluntarily entered Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum; created The Starry Night and many other works despite recurring mental illness.

Other May 8, 1889 - May 16, 1890
1890

Exhibited at Les XX and recognized

Exhibited at Les XX in Brussels and the Société des Artistes Indépendants in Paris; received praise from Monet and others.

Achievement January 1, 1890 - March 1, 1890

Moved to Auvers-sur-Oise

Moved to Auvers-sur-Oise near Dr. Paul Gachet for care; painted 70+ works in final weeks, including Wheatfield with Crows and Portrait of Dr. Gachet.

Location May 20, 1890 - July 29, 1890

Death

Vincent van Gogh died in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, at age 37, two days after a self-inflicted gunshot wound; buried in Auvers cemetery.

Other July 29, 1890