Throughout history, few artists match up to Vincent Van Gogh in terms of pure artistic genius. An embattled man, Van Gogh died at a relatively young age; he also encountered many setbacks and challenges in his lifetime, including a failed attempt to become a clergyman. However, before his death, the artist delivered some of the greatest masterpieces that are still highly rated today.
For Van Gogh, almost every artwork had a story behind them that gave them some significance in his life and journey. Vincent van Gogh’s life and work have always piqued the interest of art enthusiasts, with books, films, and, more recently, immersive experiences devoted to the Dutch artist. In addition, Van Gogh’s beautiful landscapes and spooky self-portraits have drawn large crowds to art museums across the world.
In this post, we will examine Van Gogh’s most extraordinary artworks that have left art lovers worldwide in awe. From starry nights to magnificent sunflowers, this article looks at Van Gogh’s most famous works and what makes them so distinctive.
Who was Van Gogh?
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-Impressionist artist who lived in the late 19th century. He is considered one of Western art’s most famous and influential artists. Born in Groot-Zundert, the Netherlands, in 1853, van Gogh grew up in a religious and cultured family. Despite his family’s expectations for him to become a pastor, van Gogh pursued his passion for art and began his career as an art dealer.
Van Gogh’s style is characterized by thick impasto, bold and vibrant color choices, and dynamic brushwork. He produced over 2,000 works of art in a short ten-year career, including iconic paintings such as “The Starry Night”, “Sunflowers”, and “The Potato Eaters”.
Unfortunately, Van Gogh struggled with mental illness and only sold one painting during his lifetime. He passed away in 1890 at age 37 after suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Despite his death and relative obscurity during his lifetime, van Gogh’s legacy lives on, and his work continues to be celebrated for its emotional intensity and striking beauty.
Best Artworks
We will now look at some of the most spectacular paintings by Vincent Van Gogh.
Starry Night
This is, perhaps, the most famous Vincent van Gogh artwork. It can be found on posters, novelty socks, tote bags, computer backgrounds, tattooed arms, etc. It’s also on the walls of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, where it’s one of the museum’s most eye-catching pieces. It’s everywhere.
Completed in 1889 while he was a resident at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. The artwork shows a night sky filled with stars, a cypress tree, and a small town in the distance. The use of swirling, vibrant brushstrokes and intense color choices in “The Starry Night” reflects Van Gogh’s emotional state and creates a dreamlike atmosphere. The cypress tree in the foreground serves as a focal point and symbolizes eternity and immortality.
The stars in the sky are depicted as swirling and dynamic, conveying a sense of movement and energy. In addition, the small town in the distance serves as a grounding element, reminding the viewer of the human experience. “The Starry Night” is considered a masterpiece of Post-Impressionist art and continues to be one of the most recognizable and beloved paintings in Western art history.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers is not just one artwork, but two full series of several sunflower paintings. When people talk of Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”, they usually mean the series he made while in Arles, which included four initial versions and three repetitions of the same idea.
Less well-known is the ‘Paris Sunflowers,’ which he created while living in Paris with his brother between 1886 and 1888. These sunflowers are less triumphant and not in full bloom, but they are still rather magnificent to see and may be found at museums like The Met in New York, the Kröller-Müller Museum, and (of course) the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” paintings were painted during a time of considerable emotional turmoil in his life, and they are frequently understood as symbols of optimism and happiness. The bright yellow blossoms signify the sun and vitality, while the green leaves symbolize growth and rebirth. Van Gogh’s affinity with Japanese art is also shown in the works, with the flattening of the space and the use of sharp edges in the flowers reminiscent of classic Japanese woodblock prints. The “Sunflowers” series is widely regarded today as a masterpiece of Post-Impressionist painting, and it is admired for its bold use of color, remarkable composition, and emotional depth.
Self-Portrait
Vincent van Gogh painted several self-portraits throughout his career, providing insight into his self-image and artistic style. Van Gogh’s self-portraits are characterized by his bold use of color, thick impasto, and confident brushwork. In his self-portraits, he often depicted himself with a serious expression and piercing gaze, conveying a sense of introspection and self-awareness.
One of Van Gogh’s most famous self-portraits was painted in 1889 and is now housed in the collection of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. This self-portrait is notable for its vivid color choices and intense, moody expression. The bright green background contrasts Van Gogh’s somber demeanor and provides a sense of energy and vitality. The self-portrait also showcases Van Gogh’s mastery of the human form, with the delicate modeling of his features and confident brushwork used to create a three-dimensional sense of volume.
Van Gogh’s self-portraits provide a window into his inner life and reveal his strong self-awareness and introspection. Through his self-portraits, Van Gogh depicts his physical appearance and conveys his emotions and state of mind. They are considered essential examples of Van Gogh’s artistic style and continue to be celebrated for their emotional intensity and striking beauty.
Conclusion
Finally, Vincent van Gogh was a pivotal figure in the Post-Impressionist movement and is one of the most well-known and revered artists in Western art history. His particular style, defined by vibrant color palettes, dense impasto, and dynamic brushwork, continues to inspire and enchant audiences. His works, such as “The Starry Night”, “Sunflowers”, and self-portraits, are considered Post-Impressionist masterpieces demonstrating his deep emotional expression, inventive use of color, and introspective self-awareness.
Despite his relative obscurity during his lifetime, Van Gogh’s legacy lives on, and his influence on the art world is acknowledged and researched. You can check Vincent Van Gogh’s painting list on his website to see some of his other spectacular artworks.
