(After) Vincent van Gogh Art

No, van Gogh was not an Impressionist. Due to the time when he was active and the style that he favored, the Dutch artist is generally thought of as a Postimpressionist. However, Impressionists such as Claude Monet influenced his work. Shop a collection of Postimpressionist art from some of the world's top galleries and dealers on 1stDibs.

Van Gogh lived in several places over the course of his life. Vincent van Gogh was born in Zundert, Netherlands, in 1853. Before becoming an artist, he worked as an art dealer in London, UK, and as a missionary in Belgium. Then, in 1886, he moved to Paris, where he met avant-garde artists Paul Gauguin and Émile Bernard and became inspired to begin painting. By 1888, van Gogh had grown weary of Paris and decided to relocate to Arles, France. While living there, he produced many of his most famous works, including Café Terrace at Night and the Sunflowers series. After a brief stay in a psychiatric hospital, van Gogh moved to Auberge Ravoux in Auvers-sur-Oise in May 1890, and he died there two months later. On 1stDibs, explore a collection of fine art.

Van Gogh was influenced by a number of artists. Impressionist painter Claude Monet and fellow Postimpressionist Paul Cézanne both inspired the Dutch artist. He also drew inspiration from the works of Dutch and Flemish masters like Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt as well as from the emotions conveyed in paintings by Jean-François Millet and Eugène Delacroix. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Vincent van Gogh art.

No one knows for sure what van Gogh's first painting was. However, historians have identified three works from 1881, any of which might have been the first Vincent van Gogh ever produced. They include Still Life with Cabbage and Clogs, Crouching Boy with Sickle and Woman Sewing. Shop a collection of Vincent van Gogh art on 1stDibs.

The difference between van Gogh and Gauguin was in their artistic styles and preferred subject matter. Although both artists were self-taught and are now considered Post-Impressionists, you can draw many contrasts between their work. Van Gogh tended to apply thick layers of paint with a technique known as impasto, giving his work dramatic texture. On the other hand, Gauguin's paintings are smoother, but they are equally dramatic due to his use of vibrant, often unrealistic or unexpected colors. The primary goal of van Gogh was to express his feelings and emotions through his landscapes, portraits and still-lifes. Instead of self-expression, Gauguin concerned himself with infusing symbolism and spiritualism into his work. He was a pioneer of Primitivism, art that seeks to explore the relationship between early man and his environment. On 1stDibs, find a range of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin art.

How much an original van Gogh is worth depends on its size, condition, historical significance and other factors. In 2022, the sale of his Orchard with Cypresses set a new auction record for the Postimpressionist artist, fetching a selling price of $117.2 million. Created in 1888, the work is an excellent example of how van Gogh used an impasto technique to thickly apply paint with heavy brushstrokes, instilling a sense of turbulent movement in his landscape compositions. If you're lucky enough to own a van Gogh, a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer can assist you with the valuation process. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Vincent van Gogh art and other Postimpressionist art.