Did you know that it’s not true that the painter Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime?

The idea that Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime is a frequently repeated but partially incorrect statement. It is true that Van Gogh struggled to sell his work during his life and never received the recognition that he would later achieve, but he sold more than one piece.

The most famous painting he sold during his lifetime is “The Red Vineyard” (“La Vigne Rouge”), which was purchased in 1890 by the Belgian painter and art collector Anna Boch for 400 francs. This painting is often cited as the only work Van Gogh sold, but there is evidence that he also sold or traded other paintings, mainly through his brother Theo, who was an art dealer.

There are also letters in which Van Gogh mentions that other works were sold, although these are often smaller or less well-documented transactions. Nevertheless, it remains true that Van Gogh’s work largely remained unknown and unsold during his lifetime, in stark contrast to his posthumous fame and the high prices his works fetch today.

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