Bhupendra Kumar Asthana
Lucknow: Exactly 135 years ago, in the quiet French village of Auvers-sur-Oise, Vincent van Gogh succumbed to a gunshot wound in a wheat field—an act of despair that ended the life of a man then mostly unknown. He was just 37. In the days that followed, his devoted younger brother Theo wrote a prophetic line: “He will not be forgotten.” And indeed, he never was.
Today, more than 100,000 visitors each year make their way to that village to stand before the modest grave where Vincent and Theo lie side by side. They come not only to witness the story of a life cut tragically short but to feel the enduring presence of an artist whose vision remains immediate, intimate, and deeply human.
Van Gogh, once overlooked and misunderstood, is now a global icon. As one of the most admired post-Impressionist painters in art history, his legacy is unmatched. Over a span of just ten years, he created more than 2,100 artworks—860 of them oil paintings—many during the final two years of his life. From landscapes and still lifes to portraits and self-portraits, his work is marked by bold color, dramatic brushwork, and emotional intensity that laid the foundation of modern art.
Born on March 30, 1853, in Zundert, Netherlands, Van Gogh was introspective and thoughtful from an early age. As a young man, he worked for an art dealership and traveled widely, but his move to London brought on deep melancholy. He turned to religion and served as a Protestant missionary in southern Belgium, before retreating into isolation and poor health. It wasn’t until 1881 that he began painting seriously—with his brother Theo as his sole financial and emotional support.
Their prolific letter exchange provides some of the deepest insights into Van Gogh’s tortured genius. In those words, carefully preserved by Theo, the world discovered the mind of an artist constantly at odds with himself but fully in love with the world he painted.
Despite a life marred by poverty, isolation, and mental illness—including what many now believe was bipolar disorder—Van Gogh’s work began gaining posthumous recognition in the early 20th century. His techniques inspired movements like Fauvism and German Expressionism, forever altering the course of art.
On July 27, 1890, it is believed Van Gogh shot himself in the chest with a revolver. He died two days later, on July 29.
Today, his works hang in the world’s most prestigious museums, his sunflowers and starry nights etched into collective memory. Vincent van Gogh may not have found peace in life, but through his art, he gave the world color, soul, and an undying legacy. As Theo wrote over a century ago—he will never be forgotten.
