Vincent van Gogh was one of the most tragic figures in the history of art. His genius wasn’t recognized in his lifetime. Not only his paintings, but also his life story are world famous nowadays. But Vincent was not the only Van Gogh with a tragic life story and fame. Other members of the Van Gogh family have had their share as well. Mental illness, poverty, secret service membership, a World War I victim and brutal murder overshadow the family history.
The family name Van Gogh was probably created in the small town Gogh on the German frontier. In the sixteenth century the Van Goghs started to establish in The Netherlands.
The name 'Vincent' was often used in the Van Gogh family: the baby's grandfather was called Vincent van Gogh (1789-1874), the stillborn child that was born a year before Vincent had the same name and Vincent’s nephew (Theo’s son) was named Vincent as well.
Vincent’s family
Vincent grew up in a family with three sisters (Elisabeth, Anna and Wil), two brothers (Theo and Cor), and his mother (Anna Cornelia) and father (Theodorus).
Vincent’s brother Theo gave him his full support, both emotionally and financially. Theo was an art dealer who got married and became the father of a son called Vincent Willem. Theo was accepted in an asylum short after Vincent had died and there he was diagnosed with "acute maniacal excitability with megalomania and progressive general paralysis". In October 1890 he was transferred to an asylum in The Netherlands where he died from complications of the final phase of syphilis.
Of his three sisters, Vincent was closest to Wil. Vincent corresponded with her on a regular basis. Wil had the same mental problems as Vincent, a few years after Vincent and Theo had died, she was institutionalized. During the last decades of her life, Wil completely withdrew from the world and didn’t utter a word. She died in the asylum at the age of 79.
Vincent’s youngest brother Cor died young, just like his brothers. Cor decided to serve the army in Johannesburg after his marriage had collapsed. Seven months after the start of the Anglo-Boer war, Cor was killed. His death was listed, but there are unconfirmed reports that claim he committed suicide, just like his brother Vincent.
Vincent never shared a close relationship with his sisters Elizabeth and Anna. After their father died, Vincent never spoke with Anna again. Elizabeth published her memoirs of Vincent in 1910. The public received this publication with disappointment. Her superficial relationship with Vincent may have caused this.
A new Van Gogh generation
Van Gogh's nephew Vincent Willem, son of Theo, was named after his famous uncle. In 1914 he graduated as a mechanical engineer. Throughout his life he was often referred to as "The Engineer". Vincent Willem took interest in the collection of Vincent's paintings and in 1960 he established the Vincent van Gogh Foundation, which realized the Van Gogh Museum. Vincent Willem van Gogh passed away in 1978. His children and grandchildren still have an active role today in the foundation.
Vincent Willem’s son Johan became a member of the Dutch Secret Service (AIVD). His brother Theo was executed as a resistance fighter during the German occupation in the Netherlands in WWII.
Johan's son Theodoor (Theo) became a famous Dutchman himself. And unfortunately, his life would end in a very tragic way as well. Theo van Gogh made a career as a film director, television producer, publicist and actor. He used his columns to vent his anger against anything he considered bad. He rejected every form of religion and from 1990 he started to focus on Islam.
Together with Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Theo created the movie Submission. The movie deals with the topic of violence against women in Islamic societies and after the broadcast Hirsi Ali and Van Gogh received death threats. Theo claimed that he was not afraid, but on November 2, 2004 he was brutally murdered by Mohammed B, a 26-year old Dutch citizen. Mohammed was sentenced to life in prison. The On March 18, 2007, a sculpture in memory of Theo van Gogh was unveiled in Amsterdam, De Schreeuw (The Scream).
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