Van Gogh's Turbulent Life and Art Explored in Rome Exhibition

A major exhibition in Rome reconstructs Vincent van Gogh's prolific artistic output, tracing his life from the Dutch period through Paris, Arles, the psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, and Auvers-sur-Oise, where he died. The show emphasizes his Parisian stay, where he developed a more immediate language and renewed interest in human physiognomy. The centerpiece is the self-portrait with a blue background and green touches, considered the artist's iconic face. Van Gogh created about 2,100 works in a decade, including 860 oil paintings, characterized by bold colors and expressive brushstrokes that laid foundations for modern art. Despite lifelong psychotic episodes and severe depression, he continued painting without commercial success. His friendship with Paul Gauguin ended after a quarrel where van Gogh cut off part of his left ear. He died by suicide at 37 in poverty. The exhibition is sponsored by the Lazio Region, the Rome City Council's Culture Department, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.