For many people the world over, Vincent van Gogh, is their all-time favourite painter. But very few know that he only painted for a period of 10 years. The large body of work that he managed to create in this short span of time is remarkable and shows his fanatical dedication to his art, an inspiration to aspiring painters ever since.

Born in 1853, Van Gogh began to paint rather late in life. He was 27 when he decided to turn to art and died in 1890 when he was only 37. Van Gogh’s art was very personal, a fact borne out by the large number of self-portraits that he painted — more than most other painters achieve in a bigger lifespan. His streak of eccentricity, or madness is clearly discernable in these portraits. The world is full of talented artists who fail to be recognised and Van Gogh’s case was no different. He managed to sell only one painting during his lifetime, for the equivalent of $80. Even this might not have been possible without his doting brother Theo, to whom his last words were, “But what’s the use?”

Art lovers and his many fans will remember reading about the Sotheby’s New York sale, where the top bidding price was for Irises, sold at a price of $53.9 million. Among Van Gogh’s most popular works are his sunflower paintings. Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers, the best known of the lot was sold in 1987 by Christie’s London at $39.7 million. Here again, it was the top grosser at the auction. Priced at $82,5 million is Van Gogh’s Portrait of Dr Gachet that received the highest bid at the Christie’s Auction in New York in 1990 and is listed fourth among the world most expensive paintings.

In December 1999, A Pair of Shoes, painted by Van Gogh around 1886-1887 was up for sale at Christie’s in London. Since there were very few works by Van Gogh doing the rounds, even his lesser-known paintings made news. Shoes were a recurring motif throughout Van Gogh’s career, as he felt that they represented the honest labour of the working classes.”

Considered among the bestsellers worldwide, Vincent van Gogh’s works along with Pablo Picasso’s always make news and an auction where his work fails to sell, is even ‘Bigger News’. A report about a Sotheby’s Auction in New York at the end of 2007 was particularly shocking, but a true indication of bad days looming ahead for the world of art. The report gave a very moving account of the auction. It said, “November 2007….. the painting, by one of the most famous artists ever to pick up a brush, was carefully placed on the revolving plinth at Sotheby’s. Almost immediately, a hush fell over the room at the auction house, and the packed crowd grew very still. Unfortunately, they were not frozen in awe at the beauty of the masterpiece — but by their deep reluctance to buy it.” The Vincent van Gogh landscape, Wheat Fields, which is said to be one of the artist’s last works, was eventually withdrawn, sending ‘shockwaves through the art world’. Sotheby’s now owns the painting, because it had guaranteed the seller a minimum price, said to be around £15 million.