VINCENT VAN GOGH - FAMOUS BIPOLAR ARTIST
Vincent was a well renowned painter of Dutch origin. He was born in March 30th in a place called as Groot-Zundert. Though his work was not accepted during his lifetime, it had made a mark on the art of the 20th century. Born as Vincent Willem van Gogh, his life was characterized by a series of psychological and physical illness. Van Gogh has to his credit more that 2,000 artworks made up of 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings and sketches. His works are among the most expensive art pieces today.
Van Gogh attended the Zundert village school. He later continued his education at home, taught by a governess and then to the elementary boarding school of Jan Provily. He then proceeded to Willem II College for his middle school education.
Van Gogh began his painting career in his late twenties and produced his best works during the last two years of his life. He worked for an arts dealer’s firm in Paris, traveling between London, Paris and The Hague. He was unhappy about how people treated art and left the job. Upon his return to England, he taught in a small boarding school where he made sketches of the views around the school. He later became an assistant to a Methodist minister and learned to preach the Gospel. He returned home and worked in a bookshop for six months. Van Gogh was unhappy with the job and spent most of the time translating Bible passages between German, French and English. He took an entrance examination for a theologian college, but failed. He took a three month course at another missionary school, but failed that too.
Van Gogh began his art career when he worked in a mining area of Belgium as a missionary, creating sketches of the local people. His first famous art, “The Potato Eaters” was created in 1885. He found the French Impressionists when he moved to Paris a year later. His works became better and better and by 1888, was perfect.
Van Gogh was said to have suffered from bipolar disorder, which eventually led to his death. He was dedicated and enthusiastic about religion and art. He also suffered depression and emotional moments in between. He was hostile and aggressive at times. He could sit to write for long hours, which explains his about 800 letters to his brother. Considering the belief that depression was the force behind his art works, coupled with these characteristics, the assertion that he suffered bipolar disorder made sense.
Van Gogh also suffered other illnesses, which may have contributed to his depression. He was born with a brain lesion, which was worsened by his use of a drug used to improve the sight for some bright colors, resulting in epileptic seizures. To relieve the epilepsy and depression, he often drank alcohol and, which even worsened his epilepsy. He also suffered lead poisoning, which may have resulted from his paint use and also sunstroke, which he explained in a letter to his brother was the reason for his nausea and anxiety.
Van Gogh regularly wrote letters to his younger brother, which is used today for explaining his works. They contain his thoughts and beliefs. He died of a self inflicted gunshot wound.