Vincent van Gogh Facts for Kids

A Picture of Vincent van Gogh
  • Name: Vincent van Gogh
  • Profession: Post-Impressionist Painter
  • Born: March 30th, 1853 in Zundert, Netherlands, Europe
  • Died: July 20th, 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, Europe
  • Resting Place: Auvers-sur-Oise Cemetery
  • Legacy: Famous for his oil paintings and drawings

25 Vincent van Gogh Facts for Kids

  1. Vincent van Gogh was a post-impressionist painter from the 19th century.
  2. Vincent van Gogh is most famous for his influence on Western art.
  3. Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30th, 1853 in Zundert, Netherlands, Europe.
  4. Vincent van Gogh’s actual birth name was Vincent Willem van Gogh.
  5. Vincent van Gogh was named after a stillborn brother and his grandfather.
  6. Vincent van Gogh was the son of Dutch minister Theodorus van Gogh and Anna Cornelia Carbentus.
  7. Vincent van Gogh never got married and did not have any children.
  8. Vincent van Gogh died by a self-inflicted gunshot at the age of 37 on July 29th, 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.
  9. Many historians believe van Gogh committed suicide due mental illness and depression.
  10. Throughout his career, van Gogh created more than 2,100 different pieces of artwork.
  11. Between 1869 and 1873, van Gogh trained at the Goupil & Cie art dealership.
  12. Between 1885 and 1889, van Gogh created more than 43 oil paintings of himself.
  13. In April 1885, van Gogh completes the oil painting “The Potato Eaters”. Many art historians consider this to be one of the first masterpieces by van Gogh.
  14. In 1887, van Gogh completes the oil painting “Self Portrait with Straw Hat”.
  15. In September 1888, van Gogh completed two separate oil paintings. The “Starry Night Over the Rhône” and the “Café Terrace at Night”.
  16. In October 1888, van Gogh completes the oil painting “Bedroom in Arles”. This was a painting of his bedroom at the Yellow House located at 2 Place Lamartine, Arles, France, Europe.
  17. In December 1888, van Gogh cuts part of his ear off with a razor and spends time at a hospital in Arles, France.
  18. Between 1889 and 1890, van Gogh was a patient at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum.
  19. In May 1889, van Gogh completes the oil painting “Irises” at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole.
  20. In June 1889, van Gogh completes the oil painting “The Starry Night” at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole.
  21. In 1890, van Gogh completes the oil painting “Almond Blossoms” at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole.
  22. In July 1890, van Gogh completes the oil painting “Tree Roots”. This is the last painting created by van Gogh before he commits suicide less than a month later.
  23. On July 27th, 1890 van Gogh shot himself in the chest using a 7mm revolver. The gunshot wound wasn’t instantly fatal. He ends up walking back to Auberge Ravoux where two doctors attend to him.
  24. On July 29th, 1890 van Gogh dies from his self-inflicted gunshot wound.
  25. The gun van Gogh used to commit suicide is known as the “the most famous weapon in art history”. On June 19th, 2019 the gun was sold at auction for $182,000.

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