The timber auction

1882

His first paintings in oil

Soon after three weeks in hospital in June 1882, Van Gogh painted in oils for the first time, with paints bought on money borrowed from Theo, and was surprised at how good the results were. In August Theo gave him money for materials to work en plein air, and Vincent wrote that he could now “go on painting with new vigour”.

late January 1882

Life with Sien Hoornik

Van Gogh met Clasina Maria “Sien” Hoornik, a pregnant prostitute with a five-year-old daughter, and set up home with her; on learning of it, Mauve stopped answering his letters. His father pressed him to abandon Sien, and in 1883 Vincent left her and the children.

26 March 1885

Death of his father

The artist's father, the minister Theodorus van Gogh, died of a heart attack.

1885

First public showing, in shop windows in The Hague

Van Gogh's work was publicly exhibited for the first time, in the shop windows of the dealer Leurs in The Hague.

1886

Moves to Paris to join his brother Theo

Van Gogh left Antwerp to join his brother Theo, an art dealer, in Paris. So began a very fruitful and eventful Paris period: he painted some two hundred and thirty pictures there, more than anywhere else.

April – May 1886

Cormon's studio: Bernard, Anquetin, Lautrec

At Fernand Cormon's studio Van Gogh joined the circle of the Australian John Russell, who painted his portrait, and met Émile Bernard, Louis Anquetin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who drew him in pastel. They met at Père Tanguy's paint shop, then the only place where Cézanne's paintings were shown.