Van Gogh believed drawing would benefit his painting skills. Drawing was cheap compared with painting. And when the mistral wind was too fierce to put up his easel, drawing on paper tacked on board was no problem. Today 139 years ago, on 11 August 1882, Vincent van Gogh wrote to his brother from The Hague. This was at the beginning of his painting career: "Now I would like quietly to amass a good number of painted studies to hang in my studio without referring to this as a change. And should anyone express surprise at seeing painted work by me, to say: Well, did you think I had no feeling for that or couldn’t do it? But I’ve put a lot of work into drawing and will continue to do so, because it’s the backbone of painting, the skeleton supporting everything else.” And one day later: "When...

As Van Gogh preferred to paint outside he had to deal with rain and snow, but also with wind. The strong Mistral wind in the South of France would often make it very hard for Vincent to paint. Today 133 years ago, on 9 August 1888, Vincent van Gogh wrote from Arles to his brother: "I think it’s likely that we’re going to have great heat now, with no wind, the wind having blown for 6 weeks. In that case, it’s excellent that I have colours and canvases in stock, because I can already spot half a dozen subjects, especially this little farmhouse garden of which I sent you the drawing yesterday.” Garden at Arles Arles, July 1888 Oil on canvas 82,8 x 102,0 cm Kunstmuseum Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands You may also like to read: What were the original colors of Van Gogh's...

Van Gogh was hoping to find warm and bright light in the South of France as in the Japanese prints that he collected in Paris. And he was extremely happy to see it was actually true. Today 133 years ago, on 8 August 1888, Vincent van Gogh wrote to Theo van Gogh from Arles: "This vertical small farmhouse garden is superbly coloured in reality. The dahlias are a rich and dark purple, the double row of flowers is pink and green on one side and orange almost without greenery on the other. In the middle a low, white dahlia and a little pomegranate tree, with flowers of the most brilliant orange red, yellow-green fruit, the ground grey, the tall reeds — ‘canes’ — of a blue green, the fig trees emerald, the sky blue, the houses white with green windows, red roofs. In full sun in the morning, in the evening...

Vincent and Joseph Roulin were not only good drinking friends. Roulin worked at the railway station where Van Gogh sent his paintings to his brother in Paris. And on top of that, Roulin turned out to be a topmodel! Today 133 years ago, on 5 August 1888, Vincent van Gogh wrote to his friend Emile Bernard: "I’ve just made a portrait of a postman — or rather, two portraits even — Socratic type, no less Socratic for being something of an alcoholic, and with a high colour as a result. His wife had just given birth, the good fellow was glowing with satisfaction. He’s a fierce republican, like père Tanguy. Goddamn, what a subject to paint à la Daumier, eh? He was getting too stiff while posing, and that’s why I painted him twice, the second time at a single sitting, on white canvas,...

Vincent was financially and emotionally supported by his young brother Theo. But at the same time Theo needed their strong brotherhood as much as Vincent. Vincent’s letters meant a lot to Theo. Today 132 years ago, on 4 August 1889, Theo van Gogh wrote from Paris to his brother Vincent in the Asylum in Saint-Rémy: "In your last letter you wrote that we are brothers for more than one reason. I feel that too, and even if my heart isn’t as sensitive as yours, I can sometimes imagine the distress that you feel because of so many thoughts that aren’t resolved. Don’t lose heart, and remember that I need you so much. Jo sends her best wishes for your recovery. I hope that you’ll soon be able to send good reports.” Without doubt Vincent van Gogh's younger brother Theo was his best...

In July 2020 the exact location of Van Gogh's ‘Tree Roots' was discovered in Auvers-sûr-Oise on 46 Rue Daubigny, 95430 Auvers-sur-Oise, France Today 131 years ago, on 29 July 1890, Vincent van Gogh died. His last (unfinished) painting was probably 'Tree Roots’, painted on the day that he got shot / shot himself. Tree Roots 27 July 1890 Oil on canvas 50,3 x 100,1 cm Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Hand-painted reproduction in oil on canvas of Van Gogh's " Tree Roots ". You may also like to read: Did Vincent van Gogh kill himself? Did Van Gogh mean to paint life's struggle? Your daily dose of Van Gogh. << previous | next >>

Vincent van Gogh seems to have been full of energy and devotion. Today 131 years ago, on 23 July 1890,  Vincent wrote to his brother Theo from Auvers-sur-Oise: "I’m applying myself to my canvases with all my attention, I’m trying to do as well as certain painters whom I’ve liked and admired a great deal.” Shortly before he completed ‘Plain near Auvers’. Plain near Auvers Auvers-sür-Oise, July 1890 Oil on canvas 73.5 x 92 cm Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Germany. And only 4 days later Van Gogh got shot / shot himself and died two days later on 29 July 1890. You may also like to read: Did Vincent van Gogh kill himself? Did Van Gogh mean to paint life's struggle? Hand-painted reproduction in oil on canvas of Van Gogh's " Plain...

Van Gogh worked hard. Very hard. Carrying around his easel, paint and canvas in hot and windy conditions. But also painting itself was hard work. Painting fast with thick brushstrokes naturally came with the intensity of his creative process. Today 133 years ago, on 27 June 1888, Vincent van Gogh wrote to Emile Bernard from Arles: "I’ve sometimes worked excessively fast; is that a fault? I can’t help it. For example I’ve painted a no. 30 canvas — the summer evening — at a single sitting. It’s not possible to rework it; to destroy it — why, because I deliberately went outside to make it, out in the mistral. Isn’t it rather intensity of thought than calmness of touch that we’re looking for — and in the given circumstances of impulsive work on the spot and from life,...