Vegetable Gardens in Montmartre Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

Description of Vincent van Gogh’s painting "View of Montmartre"

The life of the great post-impressionist painter was filled with tragedy, poverty and hunger from childhood. The contempt for his work and the loneliness of those around him depressed Vincent throughout his life. It was only after his death that he was recognized as a genius.

Van Gogh was born in Groot-Zündirt, Holland in 1853. He had a large family of seven children, the second of whom was Vincent. His father was a priest and his mother was the daughter of a bookbinder and bookseller. After graduating from high school, the boy began working for a small firm selling paintings. Although he was successful as a salesman, his love of painting made the job a pleasure. When he was 20 years old, he went to London. These years and changed his whole life.

There he regularly visited various museums and art galleries. His work in selling paintings in the firm was quite profitable. But, the obstacle to a successful trade and a comfortable existence was a crazy, sizzling love for a woman - the daughter of the mistress, from whom he rented an apartment, but after learning that she was engaged to another man, was deeply mentally disappointed and heartbroken. He became withdrawn and indifferent to work, which was reflected later. The dismissal served his move to France, to the city of Arles. Only painting sometimes saved him from severe depressions and hysterics, but the constant hallucinations and mental disorders were reflected in his paintings.

His rare paintings, such as A View of Montmartre, do not reflect these states.

It was being here, returns the artist’s lost strength, where and the full disclosure of talent and the formation of its individual unique style.

The gusts of inspiration that come to him from communicating with nature and sensual perception of the surrounding beauty, with the intertwining of his own enthusiastic experiences gives a powerful energy for creativity.