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Vincent Van Gogh(1853-1890) was born in Groot Zundert, The Netherlands. Van Gogh's birth came one year to the day after his mother gave birth to a first, stillborn child, also named Vincent. There has been much speculation about Vincent Van Gogh suffering later psychological trauma as a result of being a "replacement child" and having a deceased brother with the same name and the same birth date. This theory remains unsubstantiated; however, and there is no actual historical evidence to support it. Throughout his life he was frustrated and depressed. He became famous after he painted "The Potato Eaters." While famous for his irises and self-portraits, Van Gogh's "Starry Night" is still a popular piece. He wrote to his brother "Oh, what great things I might have done had I not had this cursed disease." Van Gogh died by suicide in 1890. The iris has become a national symbol of hope for people with mental illness. |
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"Oh, if I could have worked without this cursed disease, what things I might have done."
~Vincent Van Gogh
