While not as strange and different as some of the Surrealists I’ve admired, one of my top favorites is Vincent Van Gogh. Several of his works are iconic and instantly recognized, but it’s some of the the lesser known ones that top my personal list. I am magically drawn to his use of bold strokes and color in most of his work. A framed print of “Tree Roots” that I purchased in Amsterdam hangs in my front foyer. Van Gogh began painting during the end of the Impressionist era and many art critics consider Van Gogh and his contemporaries (particularly his good friend and fellow artist, Paul Gauguin) as the Post-Impressionists. Their materials, style, and use of color separated them from the true Impressionists.
Not unlike many artists, Vincent Van Gogh is said to have experienced several psychological and emotional issues, often attributed to temporal lobe epilepsy and bi-polar disorder. In fact, the well known “Starry Night” was painted while he resided in an asylum in France after the ‘ear incident’. Did you know that it was not his entire ear that was cut off – just the ear lobe, but he did in fact gift it to a prostitute… Tragically, he took his own life at only 37. Having started painting at 27, there was only a decade in which he created close to 900 works of art. He sold a total of one painting while he was alive – much of his posthumous popularity came from the effort of his brother and best-friend, Theo and his sister-in-law. Today his paintings sell for more than $80 Million.
On my trip to Amsterdam in 2006, a visit to the Van Gogh Museum was an item checked off the bucket list. A couple of pictures from that trip are below – Unable to take pictures inside – we had a good time goofing around outside.
I was thrilled to be here! 
A sneaked pic of Vincent 
Hellooooo! 
ME! 🙂
Take a few moments to watch the video below and enjoy the art of Vincent Van Gogh as it comes alive in the immersive exhibit of art ALIVE at L’Atelier de Lumieres in Paris, France!!
- Learn more about Post Impressionism HERE and HERE
- Learn more about Van Gogh, Gauguin, and the Studio of the South HERE
- Experience the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam from home HERE
A few key paintings by Vincent Van Gogh
Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette 
Starry Night 
Irises 
Sunflowers 
Self Portrait 
Almond Blossom 
Tree Roots 
Irises 
The Bedroom
Which of Van Gogh’s work is your favorite? Do you have a favorite artist?
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