37 moments

1. Born in Groot-Zundert

   1853-03-30 · Groot-Zundert, North Brabant, Netherlands

   

   Vincent Willem van Gogh was born in the North Brabant village where his father served as a Dutch Reformed minister. Settlement coordinates represent Groot-Zundert.

2. Boards at Zevenbergen

   1864-10-01 · Stationstraat 16, Zevenbergen, North Brabant, Netherlands

   Van Gogh began two years at Jan Provily's boarding school, his first extended residence away from his family. Coordinates are representative of the documented modern address, Stationstraat 16.

3. Enters school in Tilburg

   1866-09-03 · Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands

   

   Van Gogh entered the Koning Willem II secondary school, where Constant Cornelis Huijsmans taught drawing. Settlement coordinates are used because the historical school site is not specified in the quoted evidence.

4. Works for Goupil in The Hague

   1872-09-29 · The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands

   

   During his apprenticeship with art dealer Goupil & Cie, Van Gogh was documented in The Hague by his earliest surviving letter to Theo. Coordinates represent central The Hague near Goupil's historical premises.

5. Visits Paris art institutions

   1873-05-12 · Paris, France

   

   En route to his new London position, Van Gogh visited Goupil branches, the Salon, the Louvre, and the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris. The Louvre is used as a representative point for this multi-site Paris visit.

6. Begins work in London

   1873-06-13 · Southampton Street, Strand, London, England, United Kingdom

   

   Van Gogh worked at Goupil's Southampton Street branch and described living in a quiet London suburb. Coordinates represent Southampton Street near the former Goupil branch.

7. Lives at Ivy Cottage

   1874-08-01 · 395 Kennington Road, London, England, United Kingdom

   Van Gogh moved to Ivy Cottage while continuing his London employment, beginning the first of two periods at this address. Month-level precision reflects the supported move date.

8. Works at Goupil headquarters in Paris

   1875-05-31 · Paris, France

   

   Transferred from London, Van Gogh worked at Goupil's Paris headquarters and visited exhibitions and museums. Coordinates represent the Place de l'Opéra area associated with Goupil.

9. Arrives to teach in Ramsgate

   1876-04-17 · 11 Spencer Square, Ramsgate, Kent, England, United Kingdom

   

   After leaving Goupil, Van Gogh reached William Stokes's school in Ramsgate and lodged nearby at Spencer Square. The letter is dated 17 April and describes his arrival during the preceding journey.

10. Teaches and assists ministry in Isleworth

    1876-08-18 · Isleworth, London, England, United Kingdom

    Van Gogh was living in Isleworth, where he worked first at a relocated school and then as an assistant to Methodist minister Thomas Slade-Jones. Settlement coordinates cover his documented Isleworth workplaces on Twickenham Road.

11. Studies in Amsterdam

    1877-05-19 · Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

    

    Van Gogh lived with his uncle Jan near Amsterdam's naval dockyard while preparing for university entrance examinations. Coordinates represent the former naval dockyard area where his uncle resided.

12. Trains as an evangelist in Laeken

    1878-11-01 · Laeken, Brussels, Belgium

    Van Gogh lived in Laeken while attending an evangelical training school, though he ultimately failed its examinations. The editorial dating spans several possible November days; modern English generally renders Laken as Laeken.

13. Preaches in the Borinage

    1878-12-26 · Wasmes, Colfontaine, Hainaut, Belgium

    

    Van Gogh was in Wasmes undertaking evangelical work among mining communities and preaching in meeting rooms and workers' homes.

14. Serves at Petit-Wasmes

    1879-04-01 · Petit-Wasmes, Colfontaine, Hainaut, Belgium

    

    During his missionary appointment, Van Gogh lived among impoverished miners at Petit-Wasmes and adopted deliberately austere conditions. Only month precision is used because the letter is dated within a sixteen-day range.

15. Returns to Cuesmes

    1880-06-01 · Cuesmes, Mons, Hainaut, Belgium

    

    After a period with his parents, Van Gogh returned to the Borinage and stayed in Cuesmes during the crisis that preceded his commitment to art. The letter heading places him in Cuesmes between about 22 and 24 June 1880.

16. Studies art in Brussels

    1880-10-15 · Brussels, Belgium

    Van Gogh moved to Brussels, consulted artists, met Anthon van Rappard, and enrolled in elementary instruction at the Royal Academy. Coordinates represent central Brussels near the Royal Academy.

17. Works from his parents' home in Etten

    1881-11-18 · Etten-Leur, North Brabant, Netherlands

    

    Back in Etten, Van Gogh developed his drawing practice and worked from local people and landscapes while staying with his parents. The historical village of Etten is now part of Etten-Leur.

18. Studies with Anton Mauve

    1881-12-01 · The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands

    

    Van Gogh stayed in The Hague and worked under Anton Mauve, who encouraged his use of watercolour and oil paint. Month precision reflects the three-day editorial date range.

19. Establishes a Hague studio

    1881-12-29 · Schenkweg, The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands

    

    After leaving his parents following a Christmas quarrel, Van Gogh rented a studio off Schenkweg and settled in The Hague. Coordinates are representative of the historical Schenkweg area; the original streetscape has changed.

20. Arrives in Hoogeveen

    1883-09-01 · Hoogeveen, Drenthe, Netherlands

    After leaving Sien Hoornik, Van Gogh travelled north to Drenthe and lodged in Hoogeveen before moving deeper into the peat district. The letter spans two days, so month precision is used.

21. Settles near Nieuw-Amsterdam

    1883-10-01 · Nieuw-Amsterdam and Veenoord, Drenthe, Netherlands

    

    Van Gogh travelled by towboat to the Nieuw-Amsterdam and Veenoord peatlands, lodging with Hendrik Scholte and painting the surrounding countryside. His lodging was technically in Veenoord, although his letters used Nieuw-Amsterdam; coordinates fall between the adjoining settlements.

22. Continues working in the Drenthe peatlands

    1883-11-01 · Nieuw-Amsterdam, Drenthe, Netherlands

    

    Van Gogh remained based near Nieuw-Amsterdam, producing drawings and paintings of peat workers, cottages, canals, and autumn landscapes. The day is editorially approximate, so month precision is used.

23. Joins his parents in Nuenen

    1883-12-01 · Nuenen, North Brabant, Netherlands

    

    Driven by isolation in Drenthe, Van Gogh moved to Nuenen, where his parents occupied the parsonage and where he developed his peasant studies. The day is approximate; coordinates represent the Nuenen parsonage area.

24. Completes The Potato Eaters period

    1885-05-01 · Nuenen, North Brabant, Netherlands

    

    Still based in Nuenen, Van Gogh completed The Potato Eaters, the culmination of extensive studies of Brabant peasants and rural labour. Month precision reflects the two-day letter date.

25. Moves to Antwerp

    1885-11-01 · Lange Beeldekensstraat, Antwerp, Belgium

    

    Van Gogh left Nuenen for Antwerp, rented a room above a paint dealer, studied Rubens, visited museums, and collected Japanese prints. The exact historical house number is not established in the quoted evidence; coordinates represent the street.

26. Lives with Theo in Paris

    1886-01-01 · Montmartre, Paris, France

    

    Van Gogh moved into his brother Theo's Paris household, encountered Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism, and formed relationships with avant-garde artists. Year precision is used because the quoted museum timeline gives a multi-year residence range.

27. Studies during the Antwerp winter

    1886-01-01 · Antwerp, Belgium

    

    Van Gogh remained in Antwerp shortly before enrolling in the Royal Academy's antique drawing class. Coordinates represent the Royal Academy of Fine Arts area; the cited letter establishes city-level presence.

28. Arrives in Arles

    1888-02-01 · Restaurant Carrel area, Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

    

    Van Gogh left Paris for Provence, initially lodging at Restaurant Carrel and beginning the intensely productive Arles phase of his career. The broader chronology dates his arrival to 20 February; the quoted museum text supports month precision and Provence presence.

29. Works at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

    1888-06-01 · Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

    

    Van Gogh spent about a week in the Mediterranean fishing village, painting its beach, boats, sea, and settlement. The letter has two possible dates, so month precision is used.

30. Spends first night in the Yellow House

    1888-09-17 · Yellow House site, Place Lamartine, Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

    

    Van Gogh began sleeping in the Yellow House, the Arles studio-home he hoped would become the centre of an artists' community. The building was destroyed during the Second World War; coordinates identify its former site.

31. Treated at the Old Hospital in Arles

    1888-12-01 · Espace Van Gogh, former Old Hospital, Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

    

    Following his ear injury and mental crisis, Van Gogh stayed at Arles's hospital in December 1888 and returned during January 1889. This card merges the closely related December and January hospital stays.

32. Documents life at Saint-Rémy

    1889-05-01 · Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

    

    A letter written shortly after admission independently documents Van Gogh's physical presence in Saint-Rémy during the asylum period. The editorial date is approximate; this distinct card records correspondence from his new institutional residence.

33. Enters Saint-Paul asylum

    1889-05-01 · Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

    Van Gogh voluntarily became a patient at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, using a second cell as a studio and painting the institution and surrounding landscape. Month precision follows the quoted residence range; other evidence dates admission to 8 May.

34. Arrives for final months in Auvers

    1890-05-20 · Auvers-sur-Oise, Val-d'Oise, France

    

    Van Gogh moved to Auvers-sur-Oise to work near Dr Paul Gachet and within reach of Theo in Paris, beginning an exceptionally productive final period. Settlement coordinates represent central Auvers-sur-Oise.

35. Lodges at Auberge Ravoux

    1890-05-20 · Auberge Ravoux, Auvers-sur-Oise, Val-d'Oise, France

    

    Throughout his final seventy days, Van Gogh occupied a small attic room at the Ravoux inn in the centre of Auvers-sur-Oise. Exact building coordinates are supplied by the cited article.

36. Works from Auvers-sur-Oise

    1890-05-24 · Auvers-sur-Oise, Val-d'Oise, France

    

    Van Gogh's correspondence documents him in Auvers while he painted its houses, gardens, portraits, church, and surrounding wheat fields.

37. Dies at Auberge Ravoux

    1890-07-29 · Auberge Ravoux, Auvers-sur-Oise, Val-d'Oise, France

    

    Two days after sustaining a gunshot wound in Auvers, Van Gogh died in his room at the Ravoux inn with Theo nearby. Exact time is commonly recorded as approximately 1:30 a.m.; the card uses the supported calendar date.