19th-century Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh is one of the best-known and most-celebrated artists in the world. His use of vivid colors and his expressive brushstroke technique place him as among the most unique and influential painters in the history of Western art. Van Gogh’s life was not without its trials, as he suffered from lifelong mental illness, lived much of his adult existence in grim poverty, and experienced no popular success during his lifetime.