The Starry Night (1889) by Vincent van Gogh, oil on canvas, 73.7 x 92.1 cm, Museum of Modern Art, New York. He spent the next few years traveling through Belgium, Holland, and France in pursuit of his vision. Finally, in a letter to his brother Theo written in late the summer of 1880, Van Gogh announced himself an artist. Even there, however, the locals drove him out due to his irascible and erratic nature. But when he couldn't pass the required examinations, Van Gogh moved to the coal mining fields in Belgium to be a preacher (a location that didn't have strict requirements due to the fact that no one willingly went to such a dreary environment). From there, he turned to the church, hoping to follow in his father's footsteps as a preacher. After failing miserably (mainly due to his short temper), Van Gogh tried his hand as a school teacher in London.

His uncle, also named Vincent, was part owner of Goupil & Cie (Cie short for Vincent), which was among the most successful galleries in Europe. First, Van Gogh attempted to make a go in the family trade as an art dealer. Before painting pictures that would adorn the walls of the most celebrated museums, Van Gogh tried (and failed) at three other careers. Vincent van Gogh was only an artist for the last decade of his life (he died in 1890). Exactly one year later, on March 30, 1853, the couple gave birth to another child. However, the child was stillborn and buried soon after. They named him Vincent Willem van Gogh after his grandfathers on both sides of the family (as was the strict tradition at the time). Theodorus van Gogh and Anna Carbentus van Gogh gave birth to their first child on March 30, 1852.

The letters van gogh