Vincent Willem Van Gogh never sold his work.

Vincent Willem Van Gogh ( 30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890) was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. But just as many writers and artists, Van Gogh never sold any of his work during his life time. Most of his work was sold in the 20th century.

Vincent van Gogh’s work notable for its beauty, invoking emotions and usage of color. It highly influenced 20th-century art. However he struggled with mental illness, and remained poor and virtually unknown throughout his life.

He died by suicide. Some say he was murdered. The death of Van Gogh, occurred in the early morning of 29 July 1890, in his room at the Auberge Ravoux in the village of Auvers-sur-Oise in northern France. Van Gogh was shot in the stomach, either by himself or by others, and died two days later. Some say art critics and lack of recogniation contributed to him taking his life. These tings we will never know.

During his life time despite the millions nowadays, during his life his work didn’t sell.  He didn’t sell enough to support himself during his life time.

He never married or had children. Van Gogh was unlucky in love. In the early 1880s, when he was starting out as an artist and living with his parents in the Netherlands, he fell in love with his widowed cousin, Kee Vos-Stricker.

In short, suffering for the arts isn’t just a catchphrase.