March 1853 – Zundert, Netherlands
Event: Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30.
Health: Healthy newborn.
Van Gogh's March Timeline
This comparative March timeline shows how Van Gogh’s life evolved beginning with his birth, March over the years see fresh starts and bold steps: from his earliest sketches in Etten to the sunlit orchards of Arles, March marked turning points that shaped his art and spirit. I prefer month-by-month timelines as they offer a deeper, more visual way to understand how a journey unfolds across time.
March 1876 – Return from England
Event: Vincent left his job in Ramsgate and returned to the Netherlands.
Health: Disillusioned, in a period of searching for purpose.
Art: Not yet painting—this was a spiritual phase.
Letters: Early reflections on faith and service.
March 1881 – Etten, Netherlands
Event: Began sketching rural life more seriously.
Health: Emotionally steady; developing discipline.
Art: Early drawings of peasants and landscapes.
Letters: Letter 148 to Theo.
March 1885 – Nuenen, Netherlands
Event: Vincent’s father died suddenly on March 26.
Health: Emotionally shaken, retreated into work.
Art: Continued developing scenes that led to The Potato Eaters.
Letters: Letters 492–493 express grief and reflection.
March 1886 – Paris, France
Event: Arrived in Paris unannounced, moved in with Theo.
Health: Energised by artistic community.
Art: Shift to brighter palette and looser brushwork.
Letters: Letter 533 to Theo.
March 1888 – Arles, France
Event: Settled in Arles; captivated by southern light.
Health: Hopeful and productive.
Art: Blossoming Almond Tree, Orchards in Blossom.
Letters: Letter 590 to Theo.
March 1889 – Arles, France
Event: Rebuilding life after ear incident; returned to painting.
Health: Fragile but functional.
Art: The Bedroom (2nd version), still lifes.
Letters: Letter 592 to Theo.
March 1890 – Saint-Rémy, France
Event: Preparing to leave the asylum, looking ahead.
Health: Slight recovery, hopeful.
Art: Trees, wheat fields, skies full of symbolism.
Letters: Letters 634–637 to Theo.
March 1853 - Birth
- Date of Birth: March 30, 1853
- Location: Zundert, Netherlands
- Event: Vincent Willem van Gogh was born to Theodorus van Gogh and Anna Carbentus. His birth came exactly one year after the stillbirth of his brother (also named Vincent), which deeply influenced his psychological outlook later in life.
- Health: Healthy newborn
March 1876 - Departure from England
- Event: Vincent left his job as a teacher's assistant in Ramsgate and returned to the Netherlands.
- Why it matters: Marked the failure of another life pursuit (teaching) and a deepening identity crisis.
- Health: Disillusioned but driven by a need to find purpose.
- Art: None yet.
- Relationships: Wrote to Theo expressing loneliness and religious yearning.
- Letters: Reflected in early letters but not deeply explored.
March 1881 - Etten, Netherlands
- Location: Living with parents in Etten
- Event: This was an early artistic turning point. Vincent began focusing seriously on sketching rural life, including farm laborers, peasants, and village scenery.
- Health: Emotionally steady and developing discipline
- Art: Mostly drawing—early rural scenes, simple figures
- Relationships: Dependent on family; no major romantic entanglements yet
- Letters:Letter 148 (Penguin): Vincent tells Theo he’s immersing himself in drawing people from life and how he’s thinking more about the role of the peasant in art.
March 1885 - Nuenen, Netherlands
- Location: Living in Nuenen with his parents
- Event: On March 26, 1885, Vincent’s father, Theodorus van Gogh, died suddenly of a heart attack while walking to church. This event profoundly shook Vincent. He described it as a rupture in his life and an emotional upheaval. It also marked a shift in his independence, as he no longer had to navigate the tense relationship with his father, who had struggled to understand Vincent’s choices.
- Health: Emotionally overwhelmed, but retreated into work
- Art: Despite the grief, Vincent immersed himself in painting peasants and interiors. This period laid the groundwork for his first masterpiece, The Potato Eaters, which he would complete the following month (April 1885).
- Relationships: Grew closer to his mother and sister after his father’s passing
- Letters:Letter 492 (Penguin): A heartfelt note to Theo reflecting on their father's sudden death, his mother’s grief, and the surreal quiet that followed.Letter 493: Expresses his urge to return to painting quickly, using work as an emotional anchor.
March 1886 - Paris, France
- Location: Moved in with Theo unexpectedly
- Event: Without warning, Vincent arrived in Paris to stay with Theo. This triggered a major transition in his artistic career. He abandoned the dark Dutch palette and began engaging with French Impressionists.
- Health: Improved mood; energised by artistic stimulus
- Art: Began experimenting with colour, brushstroke, and modern subjects
- Relationships: Met Pissarro, Toulouse-Lautrec, and later Gauguin
- Letters: Letter 533 (Penguin): Vincent reflects on the exciting artistic scene in Paris and the possibilities of colour and light.
March 1888 - Arles, France
- Location: Arles
- Event: Arrived in Arles on February 20, but March was when he truly began to explore the vibrant Provençal spring. He believed Arles’ light could inspire a new movement in art.
- Health: Optimistic, enthusiastic
- Art: Blossoming trees, rural life, orchards in bloom — these later influenced his iconic Blossoming Almond Treeand Orchards in Blossom series
- Relationships: Regular correspondence with Theo; still very hopeful for Gauguin joining him
- Letters: Letter 590 (Penguin): He expresses excitement for the blossoming trees and the light, and talks of how Arles is the Japan of the South.
March 1889 - Arles (Post-Hospitalisation)
- Location: Arles
- Event: After the infamous ear-cutting incident in December 1888, Van Gogh was hospitalised. By March 1889, he was attempting to resume life and painting, though his mental state was fragile.
- Health: Recovering, but unstable
- Art: Continued painting—The Bedroom (second version), self-portraits, and still lifes
- Relationships: His friendship with Gauguin had collapsed; his bond with Theo remained strong
- Letters: Letter 592 (Penguin): Hints at his mixed state of mind—conflicted, yet creative.
March 1890 - Saint-Rémy, France
- Location: Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum
- Event: After nearly a year at the asylum, Vincent was preparing for release. March was a time of reflection and tentative optimism as he awaited spring and dreamed of moving north.
- Health: Slight improvement, still cautious
- Art: Skies, trees, and early spring scenes. His brushstrokes became more expressive, pointing toward his final artistic period.
- Relationships: Strong and supportive letters from Theo continued
- Letters: Letters 634–637 (Penguin): Reflect his desire to move on, reconnect with the outside world, and his enduring emotional vulnerability.
January ~ February ~ March ~ April ~ May ~ June ~ July ~ August ~ September ~ October ~ November ~ December
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I'm an enthusiast who enjoys going down rabbit holes researching the details.
I like to illustrate events and letters using AI, bringing to life what we can only imagine.
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