Why Are Vincent Van Gogh’s Paintings So Valuable?

Vincent van Gogh is one of the most well-known and influential artists. He is considered the most important Dutch artist since Rembrandt.

Vincent van Gogh was an extremely prolific artist who painted over 900 works of art during his short lifetime. His work is appealing, and his use of colors and brushstrokes help make his art genuinely unique. He inspired many art movements and artists; Van Gogh left us a legacy of his art and his letters and thoughts.

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There are many reasons why Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings continue to be highly sought after and significant paintings. Here are some of our top reason:

Van Gogh’s Art Work Is Appealing

Vincent Van Gogh’s artwork is visually appealing. His use of colors and his subject matter appeal to many different people. Even today, his work speaks to all kinds of people from all over the world.

Martin Bailey, the author of Starry Night: Van Gogh at the Asylum, wrote this about Vincent Van Gogh and his continued artistic appeal to the world.

He is an unusual combination of someone whose art has an instant appeal to people and a human interest story that is astonishing. You can see the enormous appetite for van Gogh growing certainly by the decade and almost by the year.”

Martin Bailey – New York Times

Getting any Van Gogh paintings on loan for an art museum, especially his most famous paintings, is not very easy. That is because Van Gogh and his artwork continue to appeal to many different audiences worldwide.

Van Gogh Had A Unique Brushwork And Style

Vincent Van Gogh also had a unique brushstroke and painting style. When you view many of his paintings up close, particularly Starry Night, you can see his use of intense brushstrokes that have dimensions to them.

Vincent Van Gogh, in a letter to his brother Theo, said this about these brushstrokes:

“I tell you, as regards work, my mind feels absolutely serene and the brushstrokes come to me and follow each other very logically.”

Vincent Van Gogh- Letter To Theo Van Gogh – 1890

Van Gogh Used Appealing Colors

Vincent Van Gogh used many appealing colors such as blues, greens, yellows, and blues. He was a master of bright colors.

So many of the colors he used appeal to us all. When I see his paintings and the colors, the paintings speak to me. I love all the colors he uses, such as yellows, greens, and blues.

Vincent Van Gogh’s typical colors included (but were not limited to): chrome yellow, cadmium yellow, chrome orange, vermillion, Prussian blue, ultramarine, lead white, zinc white, emerald green, and red lake, red ocher, raw sienna, and black.

Van Gogh Was A Prolific Artist

During his lifetime, Vincent Van Gogh was known to paint more than 900 paintings. He also produced many sketches and drawings.

Considering all the paintings and drawings, he created 4 or 5 paintings weekly. For any artist, that is a tremendous amount of output.

Van Gogh was not lazy, and he was anything put. He was an extremely hard worker and worked very hard at his art and painting.

Some people wonder why his artwork is still valuable if he painted so many paintings. The truth is that to be able to obtain a Vincent van Gogh painting today is extremely difficult. It is even challenging for museums to get the paintings on loan to show in their museum.

Van Gogh Inspired Many Art Movements

We know that Van Gogh sold very very paintings in his lifetime, but despite this, he continued to influence art and artists for a long time. His use of brushstrokes and contoured lines influenced many artists and art movements that went after him.

Van Gogh influenced essential art movements, including Expressionism, Fauvism, and early abstract art. For example, in the Expressionism art movement, the artist would try to emulate his use of bright colors and brushwork. They also like his color combinations.

Listen To Our Podcast About The Death Of Vincent Van Gogh by clicking here.

Van Gogh Inspired Many Artists That Went After Him

Vincent Van Gogh inspired many artists that went after him. In fact, after his untimely death in 1890, Henri Matisse and Paul Klee were two artists inspired by Van Gogh’s technique and style. In particular, Paul Klee started to shift towards using bright and robust colors.

Other artists that followed him and were inspired by him include Kirchner and Kandinsky; they were inspired by Van Gogh’s technique, choice of color, and dramatic brushstrokes.

Vincent Van Gogh Left Us A Legacy Of His Art

Vincent van Gogh left us a legacy of art. When he died, most of his collection was in the hands of his brother Theo. When his brother Theo died a short time later, his sister-in-law, Joanna, understood the importance of Vincent Van Gogh’s art.

Today a large portion of the collection can be seen in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Holland. Joanna‘s son Vincent helped to ensure his uncle’s legacy by setting up an agreement with the Dutch government and Van Gogh’s foundation. Today we can all enjoy Vincent van Goghs artwork because of the foresight of these individuals.

We Have Van Gogh’s Written Word

Besides being a prolific artist, Vincent Van Gogh was a prolific writer of letters and postcards. In particular, he wrote many letters to his brother Theo.

Vincent Van Gogh’s sister-in-law Joanna understood these letters’ importance; she edited them and published a book of the letters between Vincent van Gogh and her late husband, Theo. These letters continue to give us an insight into Vincent Van Gogh and his life and death.

Vincent Van Gogh’s letters also give us great insight into his art. He has left us a legacy of not just his art but also the written word.

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What Art Tools Did Vincent Van Gogh Use?

Vincent Van Gogh used most of the essential tools that artists of his day used, such as oil paints, turpentine, oil, canvas, brushes, palette knife, and easel. We learn from some of his letters how he used these art tools for his paintings. We also know from the letters how essential these art tools were to him.

By clicking here, you can learn more by reading What Art Tools Did Vincent Van Gogh Use?.

Why Is Van Gogh Considered Such a Great Artist?

Many things make Vincent Van Gogh unique and great as an artist. He had a great way to use color in his heart, but more than that, he was an artist who set and paved the way, and his brushstroke technique used color and his design ability. What is interesting about all this he did this as a self-taught artist.

By clicking here, you can discover more by reading Why Is Van Gogh Considered Such a Great Artist?

How Much Is Van Gogh’s Starry Night Worth?

Van Gogh used color, form, and emotions in his art. He had a bright palette that was individualized for his time. Even though he did not see a lot of success during his life after he died, the impact of his art can be seen in both the Expressionism and Fauvism movements that were taking place in Europe.

By clicking here, you can learn more by reading How Much Is Van Gogh’s Starry Night Worth?, And Other Facts.