Van Gogh, a life sustained by a brother

Gwen Herat

A brother’s abiding love throughout life sustained the ever failing spirit of Van Gogh who otherwise would have died much early and the world poorer in one man’s art iconism. Among his many siblings Theo who was born in 1857 stood by Gogh to the end. Vincent Van Gogh who was born on 30 March, 1853 suffered an excessive morbid imagination in the latter part of his prosperous life because of a coincident that took place in his family. One year earlier and exactly on 30 March 1852, his mother had given birth to a baby boy called Vincent. Ever since he knew about this drama, Van Gogh secretly imagined whether he was born again. But he was a Christian and a good Christian at that. His Father was a parson, Rev. Theo and his mother, Anna who made sure that the Gogh kids spent a robust forward-thinking lot in a happy environment. The young Gogh was surrounded by his greatest love, the beauty of his countryside.

Gogh was selling others’ art by the time he was sixteen years old because all his three uncles were involved in dealing with the fine arts. One of his uncles who worked for the famous French art dealers, Goupil and Company in Hague, was able to get Gogh employed as an apprentice in 1869. His brother, Theo started working at Goupil’s Brussels office in 1872. Gogh was promoted to the London offices of Goupil in 1873. Without losing the fine opportunity provided to expand a good art career, Gogh got involved with his landlady’s daughter who rejected him. He experienced fits of melancholia and later into severe depressions. As a result of his erratic behaviour, his work suffered irredeemably. He no longer cared for his job but threw himself to religion and became less rational.

He was sent to the Paris offices in an attempt to restore his equilibrium but in Paris, his behaviour became worse. Gogh became something like a hermit and studied the Bible with frantic fervour. Goupil permanently dismissed him in 1876. Despite his heartbreak in London, he had developed an affection to England and returned from Paris to take up a teaching job that made things worse. He was poverty-stricken and dejected. But a parson from London, offered him bed, board and a teaching job.

This became a period of restoration for him with Rev. and Mrs. Shade Johns becoming his inseperables. He was happy and contented and helped the poor and stricken around Isleworth and Brixton. During his time in London, he became more and more concerned for the down-trodden and dedicated his life towards them by becoming a missionary. He had great faith in God. He threw himself to preaching but sadly he was looked upon as strange because of his over powering zest for religion. He lived the life of hermit style, lived in a squalid insanitary hut and attempted to the Christ-like. When all thought him to be eccentric, his ever devoted brother, Theo stood by and sent him money for his expenses.

Later, Gogh realised where his vocation lay and in 1888, announced ‘Zam taking up my pencil again. I am putting myself to drawing anew and since then everything for me has changed.’

Thus began his illustrious career that spanned over ten years during which he painted many masterpieces, enhancing the Dutch cultural heritage. Yet, Gogh’s unconventional behaviour added fuel to his already prevailing rift with his deeply Christian father that scandalised Hague society. His father considered having his son committed to an asylum for the insane but ever faithful brother, Theo stood by him.

However, Gogh continued his painting with undivided attention, throwing himself to his art in endeavour to forget his problems. Some of his later paintings are etched with his emotions, strikingly displaying what was on his mind when he painted. But he went soft on flowers, his favourite subject which he painted profusely.

After a life of turbulence, disappointment and frustration, Gogh tragically shot himself which took him two days to die. On 27 July, 1890. Befittingly, Theo was with him for his last hours. He was only 37 years old.

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