Vincent van Gogh shoots himself and dies two days later.

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter whose emotional intensity and bold use of color left a lasting mark on modern art. Born in 1853 in the Netherlands, van Gogh led a troubled life marked by mental health struggles and poverty. Though he only began painting in his late twenties, he created over 2,000 artworks, including more than 800 oil paintings. He wasn’t commercially successful during his lifetime—he sold only a handful of paintings—but he relentlessly pursued his artistic vision, often supported emotionally and financially by his brother Theo.

Van Gogh’s artistic style is instantly recognizable: swirling brushstrokes, thick application of paint (impasto), and vibrant, exaggerated colors. His work evolved rapidly over just a decade, influenced by Impressionism, Japanese prints, and his own psychological states. Some of his most iconic pieces—The Starry Night, Sunflowers, Wheatfield with Crows—were painted during periods of great emotional turbulence, often while he was in asylums or recovering from breakdowns. Despite the turmoil, these works convey profound beauty, isolation, and intensity, revealing a man who saw the world through a deeply empathetic and passionate lens.

Tragically, van Gogh’s life ended in 1890 when he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 37. Only after his death did the art world begin to appreciate the depth and originality of his work. Today, he’s considered one of the most influential figures in Western art history. His story resonates not just because of his artistic genius, but also because of the raw humanity he poured into every painting. He reminds us that even in despair, beauty and meaning can flourish.