The Mind Creative AUGUST 2014 | Page 18

The Mind Creative Starry Night - 1889 Vincent left Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in 1890 and began communicating with his brother Theo about his innermost thoughts and the state of his mind. During this time, Vincent worked feverishly creating nearly one painting day. By then, he viewed his life as horribly wasted and a culmination of failures. On July 27, 1890 Van Gogh attempted suicide by shooting himself in the chest. He survived, but died two days later from the wound. Theo, who had collected most of Vincent's work from Paris, died only six months later. His widow took the collection to Holland and dedicated herself to getting the now deceased Vincent the recognition he deserved. She published his works and Vincent became famous almost instantly and since then his tragic life, mental anguishes and immortal creations have become legendary. Today, while his paintings keep on selling for hundreds of millions of dollars, he managed to sell only one painting in his lifetime; dying a broken wasted man, believing himself to be useless and an abject failure. 18