Who Was Vincent van Gogh?
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch artist who lived from 1853 to 1890. He is one of the most beloved painters in history, and his paintings are some of the most recognized in the world.
Van Gogh did not start painting until he was 27 years old, which is pretty late for an artist! But once he started, he could not stop. In just 10 years, he created over 2,000 artworks, including about 860 oil paintings. That is a LOT of painting!
His most famous painting is The Starry Night, which shows a swirling night sky over a small village. The sky is alive with movement — big spiraling clouds, bright glowing stars, and a crescent moon, all painted with thick, swirling brushstrokes.
Van Gogh used bright, bold colors and thick paint to express how he FELT about what he was seeing, not just what it looked like. His sunflower paintings glow with happy yellows. His night scenes swirl with mysterious blues and greens.