Born Vincent Willem Van Gogh in the Netherlands, he was known as a post-impressionistic painter, but he is probably best known as the artist who cut off his own ear (he severed his left ear lobe with a razor, and nearly bled to death), the reason being that he suffered severely from dementia. He had previously been hospitalized in an asylum for a year, and during this time, he continued to paint. He also painted one of his many self-portraits while a patient.

After many jobs prior to his career as a painter (art dealer, teacher, clergyman), he finally began his art studies in 1880. In 1882, he met a woman named Clasina Hoornik, (also known as Sien), and her two children, in which he drew many pictures of them during their two year courtship.

Van Gogh once said- "As for me I am rather often uneasy in my mind, because I think that my life has not been calm enough; all those bitter disappointments, adversities, changes keep me from developing fully and naturally in my artistic career". (June 1889)

Vincent Van Gogh committed suicide in 1890, at the age of 37.

FYI-  The painting Van Gogh did of 'Corridor in the Aylum', was done in black chalk and a method known as gouache, on pink Ingres paper. Gouache (pronounced 'gwash'), is achieved by combining white pigment with water colors. The effect is a stronger color, which is also heavier and opaque.

Ingres paper is a pastel type, acid free paper used in printwork, pastels, charcoal, calligraphy, and lithography. Very interesting!