Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) is the quintessential Post-Impressionist, whose emotive command of color and form laid the groundwork for Modernism. Breaking away from Impressionism’s observational focus, Van Gogh utilized heavy impasto and rhythmic brushstrokes to express profound psychological intensity, seen vividly in masterpieces like The Starry Night and Sunflowers. His rapid evolution—from somber earth tones to the explosive luminosity of his time in Arles—marks a pivotal shift in Western art history.

As a direct precursor to Fauvism and German Expressionism, his influence is immeasurable. His final years in Provence produced his most historically significant works, including The Bedroom, where vibrating energy transforms domestic stillness into an iconic vision of the human experience.