Vincent van Gogh was a post-impressionist painter known for his distinctive use of brushstrokes. The technique, known as Impasto, involves laying a thick layer of paint on the canvas, which creates a textured effect that is visible to the naked eye. Van Gogh used undiluted flat color with a brush or palette knife to achieve this effect, making his paintings immediately recognizable.
Although van Gogh was not widely appreciated during his lifetime, today he is considered one of the most popular post-impressionist painters. This is due, in part, to his use of brilliant colors, particularly blue and yellow, and his expressive application of Impasto brushstrokes. In his final two years, van Gogh gained fame, with “Starry Night” being one of his most recognizable paintings. It has been reproduced onto a wide range of items, making it one of the most famous paintings in the world.
Despite his mental health struggles, van Gogh continued to paint prolifically during his time at the Saint-Remy-de-Provence mental asylum. Some of his most well-known paintings, including “Starry Night,” were painted during this time. Despite his reputation as a difficult and violent man, he was extremely knowledgeable about the Bible. Today, van Gogh’s paintings, including “Café Terrace at Arles Night,” “The Bedroom,” “Irises,” “At Eternity’s Gate,” “Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear” and “Wheatfield with Cypresses,” are celebrated and widely regarded as masterpieces.
