What Inspired Vincent Van Gogh?

Huynh NguyenNovember 7, 2022

Inspiration is a curious thing. In truth, nobody has been quite able to properly define precisely what it is or where it comes from. The Ancient Greeks referred to it as the Muse, a divine being outside of the mind that brings the gift of inspiration to a lucky soul and devoted soul. This is also similar to the biblical belief, hence the expression “Divine Inspiration.”

It strikes a person suddenly and can change their entire lives forever. So many of history’s most famous figures either had a dream, a vision, or a single thought enter their minds that inspired them to greatness. For Dutch Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh, this was also the case.

Like many children, Van Gogh was interested in drawing but never went anywhere with it and took up a living as an art dealer instead. Then, one day everything changed. Fueled with inspiration and a suggestion from his brother, Van Gogh picked up a pencil and sketchpad once more. This single spark resulted in some of the most amazingly creative paintings ever made and a legacy as arguably the most famous painter of all time.

The Sower, After Millet (1881)

It wasn’t until 27 that Vincent Van Gogh began composing any serious artwork. During that time, he returned home to live with his parents while he gathered his bearings in his new profession. As a result, the inspiration for his art came primarily from studying the local landscape around him and the residents of the surrounding areas.

The Sower (After Millet) is one of Vincent Van Gogh’s first artistically credible drawings. From a middle-class background, Van Gogh was fascinated by the lives of working-class people and the daily tasks of peasant life. This Fascination stayed with the artist throughout his short-lived career and remained the inspiration for many of his most significant artworks.

The figure of the Sower was featured in several prominent paintings and was often in the title of his paintings list. Although this version of the Sower lacks the vibrant color and creative flare that his later artwork is known for, the abstract and surrealist elements that are also synonymous with Van Gogh’s style are present. Like the Sower himself, is a seed of things to come.

The Iron Mill in the Hague (1882)

One way inspiration has often been described is that it is like being shot out of a canon. Once Van Gogh started to find his stride as a painter, he never looked back. Like many people touched by inspiration, the Dutch artist had found his calling in life and grabbed his destiny with both hands.

He had more than doubled the number of paintings and drawings from the previous year and showed no signs of slowing down. His unique identity as a creative mind had begun to take shape. Van Gogh saw the world very differently from most people, and this altered perspective of reality began to emerge more and more within his artwork.

Through Van Gogh’s eyes, the world around us is alive with magic and splendor that is taken for granted by the majority. The Iron Mill in The Hague teases this idea and is one of Vincent Van Gogh’s best early paintings. As Van Gogh was still trying to find himself at this point, It was rough around the edges. Still, it showcases the uncanny ability and astute vision that would define his legacy.

The Potato Eaters (1885)

By 1885, the list of Vincent Van Gogh paintings names had grown exponentially. His paintings shifted further away from anything resembling Realism and diverged deeper into Impressionism. However, through practice and constant repetition, he became adept in many avenues of painting, such as still life, landscape, and portraits.

However, with over 200 paintings under his belt, his style remained melancholy, almost bleak, and lacked any of the festivity of colors that he is famous for today. At this time, Vincent Van Gogh’s drawing, although captivating, focused on the dark side of things. This may also reflect the state of the artist’s troubled mind at the time.

The Potato Eaters is the most famous of these so-called “dark” paintings. Today it ranks amongst the most famous Vincent Van Gogh artworks and is celebrated for its mood and charm. At the time, though, alongside a series of other peasant paintings, it failed to make a splash at the exhibition and was criticized for being too dark. But then, Van Gogh was hit with new inspiration, filled with immense color and creative imagination.

The Bedroom in Arles (1888)

Over the next couple of years, the style of Vincent Van Gogh’s artwork dramatically changed. Van Gogh had fully found his artistic identity and embraced Post-Impressionism ideals wholeheartedly. The somber earthy color tones were completely gone in favor of a kaleidoscope of color and experimental composition.

Inspiration had overcome Vincent Van Gogh’s drawings, and he produced more paintings in his last three years as an artist than in the seven years combined. However, this ingenuity and inspiration came at a price as the artist’s mental state continued to devolve.

The question of the source of inspiration is interesting, as is the question of the difference between genius and madness. Van Gogh threaded this line closely at the end of his career, which is reflected in his artwork. The Bedroom in Arles regularly appears on many famous Van Gogh paintings lists. It prophetically highlights both his artistic brilliance and deteriorating mental state.

Conclusion

For a good reason, Vincent Van Gogh holds the title of the most famous artist. He is regarded as one of the most creatively inspired minds, but in the end, he also lost his mind to his art. His years as an artist may have been troubled, but his legacy as one of history’s great painters is undeniable.

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