Vincent’s Birthday

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On Friday 30 March 2018, we celebrate Vincent van Gogh's 165th birthday. How did Vincent celebrate his birthday? Who wished him a happy birthday? And did he receive presents? The answers to these questions are hidden in his letters.

If you were to tell Vincent how many people would be celebrating his birthday today, he would never have believed you. The artist only ever received a handful of best wishes by letter (greetings cards were yet to be invented). Vincent was not inundated with gifts; he was happy with the little things in life.

Vincent's 21st birthday

For his 21st birthday, Vincent's younger brother Theo sent him 1 guilder to buy a pair of cufflinks. Vincent was living in London at the time, where he worked for art dealer Goupil. Theo also worked for Goupil, but in Brussels. Vincent could certainly put a pair of cufflinks to good use and appreciated the gesture, but also felt a little uncomfortable:

'In a letter from Pa and Ma I got a guilder from you to buy a pair of cufflinks. Many thanks, old chap, but you shouldn't have done it, you need your money more than I do.' (Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo, 30 March 1874. Letter 021)

Vincent's 30th birthday

Lots of people celebrate their 30th birthday with mixed feelings. Perhaps it's even the first time that they don't merrily jump out of bed on their birthday. This wasn't the case for Vincent; he had a great day. He had been working as an artist for three years. At the time, Vincent was living in The Hague and taking lessons from celebrated artist Anton Mauve. Three days after his birthday, Vincent wrote to Theo:

'Thank you for your good wishes on my birthday. As it happened, I had a very pleasant day, because just then I had an excellent model for a digger.' (Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo from The Hague, 2 April 1883. Letter 334)

Vincent didn't create these works of diggers on his birthday, but rather a year earlier, in 1882. Left: Digger, November 1882 (drawing). Right: Digger, November 1882 (lithograph)

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