Vincent Van Gogh

At my art group we have been studying Van Gogh. I hadn't realised how much work he produced in his very short life (37 years). He didn't start painting until his late twenties and much of his most famous work was produced during the last two years of his life. He produced more than 2,000 artworks (900 paintings and 1,100 sketches) and I believe he only sold one during his life.

The self portrait above is more uncommon as most he painted show himself with a beard. This particular one sold for $71.5 million in 1998.

My favourites are 'The Peasant Couple Going To Work'

and 'The Siesta'

Of course, it is well known that he was a very troubled man. I find this painting ('At Eternity's Gate') haunting as he produced this in the last year of his life.

On 27th July 1890 Van Gogh shot himself in the chest and died two days later from his wounds. His brother reported his last words to be "La tristesse durera toujours" (the sadness will last forever).

I bought the single record of Don McLean's song 'Vincent' in 1972. Here it is on youtube, it never ceases to bring a tear to my eye.