Timeline Description: The Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh (born March 30, 1853) is known for his vivid and brilliant paintings, unique painting style, and mental health problems, as well as his eventual suicide. Van Gogh was not well known in his life, but is today one of the best known painters of the late 19th century.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 30, 1853 | Vincent Van Gogh Born Van Gogh was born in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands. His family was upper middle class, and had an interest in the arts. His brother, Theo, would become an art dealer. |
| 1864 | Sent to Boarding School(1864 to 1866) At 11, Van Gogh went to boarding school in Zevenbergen. He was unhappy to leave home, and later called his childhood "cold and sterile". |
| July 1869 | Employed by the Hague gallery In 1869, Vincent took a job with an art firm, working in his native Netherlands. He later transferred to London, and then to Paris. |
| 1876 | Moved to Borinage, Belgium(1876 to 1880) Van Gogh begins devoting his life to the evangelization of the poor in the town of Borinage. |
| 1880 | Moved to Brussels, Belgium(1880 to 1884) Van Gogh relocates to Brussels and begins learning the skills needed to become an artist |
| April 1885 | Completion of The Potato Eaters Van Gogh's first work, The Potato Eaters, was completed in Belgium. His essential style is not yet visible. |
| March 1886 | Moved to Paris Van Gogh moves to Paris. In Paris, he discovered the Impressionists and Post Impressionists working in the city. |
| 1887 | Self Portrait with Straw Hat(Summer 1887) In the 1887, Self Portrait with Straw Hat, Van Gogh's work shows essential elements of his later style, including the characteristic application of paint. |
| February 1888 | Moved to Arles Van Gogh moved to Arles to create a school of art. His mental decline began relatively soon after the move. |
| 1888 | Sunflowers Van Gogh painted the famous sunflower pieces and begins suffering from mental problems. The final years of his life, while the most troubled, are also the most productive. |
| September 1888 | Paintings(September and October 1888) During this period, Van Gogh completed a large number of works, including Starry Night over the Rhone, and a series of paintings depicting his bedroom in Arles. |
| December 1888 | Committed Van Gogh cut off a portion of his ear, sending it to a local prostitute. After, he committed himself to a mental asylum in Saint Rémy. |
| December 1888 | Relationship Changes Van Gogh and the painter Gauguin had been very close friends for a long time; however, Van Gogh's actions led to the ending of their friendship. |
| May 1889 | Irises In May 1889, Van Gogh painted the stunning and vivid Irises. This was painted while he was living in the asylum in Saint Remy. |
| June 1889 | Starry Night Van Gogh's Starry Night depicts the night sky as seen from his room in the asylum. The sky is portrayed as it appears just before sunrise. |
| May 1890 | Left Asylum Van Gogh left the asylum to begin care in Auvers-sur-Oise under Dr. Paul Gachet, who was recommended to Vincent by painter Camille Pissarro. |
| July 29, 1890 | Suicide Vincent Van Gogh died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was buried on July 30 at Auvers-sur-Oise. |