The Letters of Vincent van Gogh

The surviving collection of Vincent van Gogh’s letters begins in 1872, three years into his stint as an employee of Goupil & Cie, a well-recognized art firm with offices in the Hague, London, Paris, New York, and Brussels. Van Gogh’s uncle, also named Vincent, was a partner at the firm, and had recommended Vincent for the position. By December of the same year, his younger brother, Theo, had also begun work as a dealer for Goupil & Cie, although he was stationed in Brussels. Van Gogh’s earliest letters from this period are filled with a sense of fondness for his brother, and excitement that they will be working in the same field moving forward.

In March of 1873, Van Gogh was moved to London by the company, where he would live for roughly two years. His time in the English capital was largely pleasant, and he spent lots of time reading his favorite author, Jules Michelet. In 1875, Goupil & Cie moved him again, this time to Paris. Although he enjoyed the city’s vibrant art scene, he was growing more devoutly religious, and was beginning to express an aversion to the art trade. This aversion eventually led to his dismissed by Goupil & Cie.