Artist. Born in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands, in 1869 he began working for art dealers, but in 1877 he studied religion and from 1878 to 1880 he was an evangelist in Belgium. Later he decided to become an artist. He admired the work of Millet and Daumier and his early subjects were peasants. He lived in Brussels and in Netherlands and in February 1886 he moved to Paris where he lived together with his brother, Theo, and encountered Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting. In Fernand Cormons atelier, he met Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. He also met Emile Bernard, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Camille Pissarro, and Paul Signac at that time. Brighter palette, flowers, portraits, and scenes of Montmartre, replaced his earlier subject matter and tonalities. In February 1887 he moved to Arles, where he painted in isolation. His first mental breakdown was in December 1888. Nevertheless, he continued to paint. In 1890, he was invited to show with Les Vingt in Brussels, where he sold his first painting. That same year, he was represented at the "Salon des Independants" in Paris. He shot himself on July 27, 1890, and died on July 29 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.

Artist. Born in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands, in 1869 he began working for art dealers, but in 1877 he studied religion and from 1878 to 1880 he was an evangelist in Belgium. Later he decided to become an artist. He admired the work of Millet and Daumier and his early subjects were peasants. He lived in Brussels and in Netherlands and in February 1886 he moved to Paris where he lived together with his brother, Theo, and encountered Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting. In Fernand Cormons atelier, he met Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. He also met Emile Bernard, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Camille Pissarro, and Paul Signac at that time. Brighter palette, flowers, portraits, and scenes of Montmartre, replaced his earlier subject matter and tonalities. In February 1887 he moved to Arles, where he painted in isolation. His first mental breakdown was in December 1888. Nevertheless, he continued to paint. In 1890, he was invited to show with Les Vingt in Brussels, where he sold his first painting. That same year, he was represented at the "Salon des Independants" in Paris. He shot himself on July 27, 1890, and died on July 29 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.

Bio by: Jelena