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Vincent van Gogh

The tortured genius who sold one painting in his lifetime — now the most expensive artist in history.

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About

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) produced over 2,100 artworks in just 10 years, including about 860 oil paintings. Despite his extraordinary output, he sold only one painting during his lifetime (Red Vineyard, for 400 francs). His bold colors, emotional intensity, and unique brushwork revolutionized art, directly influencing Expressionism, Fauvism, and modern art. Van Gogh suffered from severe mental illness throughout his life and famously cut off part of his own ear during a breakdown in December 1888. He spent the last year of his life voluntarily in an asylum, where he painted some of his most celebrated works including Starry Night. He died at 37 from a gunshot wound — whether self-inflicted or accidental is disputed.

# Top 10 Vincent van Gogh facts

  1. 1Van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime — Red Vineyard for 400 francs
  2. 2His Portrait of Dr. Gachet sold for $82.5 million in 1990 — then the highest price ever paid for a painting
  3. 3He wrote over 800 letters to his brother Theo, providing an extraordinary window into the artist's mind

Fascinating Facts

  • Van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime — Red Vineyard for 400 francs
  • His Portrait of Dr. Gachet sold for $82.5 million in 1990 — then the highest price ever paid for a painting
  • He wrote over 800 letters to his brother Theo, providing an extraordinary window into the artist's mind
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