The Little Dutch Boy
Story by Victoria McMurray
Over 150 years ago, in a country known for their windmills and tulips, there lived a quiet, strange boy.
He did not have many friends and even his two brothers and three sisters thought of him as an "odd duck".
He had a bad temper that would come out in bursts of rage. He had a hard time fitting in with others and making friends.
Yet this little Dutch boy's unique view of his world would forever change how we saw it too.
This Dutch boy was the second born son of a pastor and an artistic mom.
Their first born son did not survive birth and as was the custom of the day, his name was passed on to their second son. Strangely, the two brothers were also born on the same day.
Every Sunday, the boy would walk past a gravestone that had his name and birth date on it.
Who wouldn't grow up to be a bit odd after seeing daily his name and birthday written on a gravestone!
The little Dutch boy did not show much interest in art. It was much later in his life that he decided to become an artist.
Before deciding on an art career as a painter, he held many other jobs. He was a bookstore clerk, an art salesman, and for a short time, a preacher like his father. All did not quench his desire to express his unique view of the natural world.
He never got married and remained an "odd duck" all his life with his closest friend and confidant being his brother, Theo.
The two brothers shared a love of art (Theo was an art dealer) and much of what we know about this Dutch artist is from the vast written correspondence between them.
Encouraged by his brother Theo, he lived in Paris, France for a couple of years and there met a group of artists called the Impressionists . These artists inspired the Dutchman to steer away from using drab and somber colors. He began to paint like them using a bright, colorful palette and broad, broken brush strokes .
He moved to a small town, Arles, in the the south of France to start his own artcommune . He was joined by another painter for a short time but the two argued frequently and the artist friend eventually left.
It was in Arles that the Dutchman's physical health began to deteriorate . He began to develop severe mental problems as well.
It is also true that in Arles the dutchman developed his unique style. He produced over 900 paintings in the last decade of his life alone!
The Dutchman realized that he had mental problems and commited himself to a hospital. He continued to paint and it was there that he produced one his most famous paintings Starry Night.
At the early age of 37, he died fom a self-inflicted bullet wound.
This odd duck sold only one painting during his lifetime. He produced over 2,000 pieces of art work. He was to become one of the most influential artists of all times.
Yes, it is true he even cut off a piece of his ear.
Who was the little Dutch boy? Have you Guessed?
His name was:
Vincent van Gogh
Resources for images
Cover Page: Dutch Boy
Page 2: Windmill
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:De_Liefde_Windmill,_Sakura,_Chiba,_Japan_-_20060417.jpg
Page 3: Van Gogh Mom
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_the_Artist's_Mother_by_Vincent_van_Gogh.jpg
Page 4: Theo Van Gogh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vincent_van_Gogh,_Portrait_of_Theo_van_Gogh_(1887).jpg#filelinks
.jpg#filelinks){kind=link}
Page 5: Van GoghArlesbedroom
http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/vincent-van-gogh/vincent-s-bedroom-in-arles-1889-1
Page 6: Starry Night
http://uploads2.wikipaintings.org/images/vincent-van-gogh/the-starry-night-1889(1).jpg!Blog.jpg
.jpg!Blog.jpg){kind=link}