By Sophia Arndt
Published March 23, 2026
On March 30, 1853, Vincent van Gogh was born in the humble village of Zundert. At the time, neither his family nor van Gogh himself could have ever predicted the fame and praise he would gain later in life.
Praise that would seemingly come too late, with van Gogh’s paintings only gaining attention after his tragic suicide in 1890, after creating some of the most recognizable paintings in the world.
In his early life, van Gogh had little idea of what he wanted to do in life. As the eldest son of six, and his father being a Protestant pastor, van Gogh was a solitary and quiet child. In his youth, he was often described as an observer and wanderer of nature. A wandering nature that was tampered by his apprenticeship to the Haughe branch of art dealers Goupil and Co., at the age of 16.
Van Gogh was critical of his time at Goupil, as it was believed that the daily interactions with art stimulated his creativity, but ultimately grew to dislike the practice of art dealing. However, this time left a great impact on the painter, as he would go on to begin his artistic career at the age of 27, after wandering Europe for a time.
In his life, and later his artwork, van Gogh was seemingly drawn to the mundanity of everyday life scenes, translating them into sprawling and vivid landscapes. Creating through a post-impressionism lens, van Gogh was constantly transforming his hardships into works of art.
As a painter, van Gogh is remembered with fondness and sadness, as the artist committed suicide in 1890, years before his art could be appreciated for the works of beauty they were. Today, his artwork hangs in galleries across the world, crossing linguistic and cultural barriers for the enjoyment of his artistry.
““What I have done is nobody else’s business. I am free to do what I like with my own body.””
– Vincent van Gogh, prior to his death.
Sophia Arndt 
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