How did Vincent van Gogh become famous after his death?

Vincent van Gogh was virtually unknown during his lifetime, having sold very few of his more than 2,000 artworks. His rise to fame began in the early 20th century and has grown steadily since.1

Several factors contributed to his posthumous reputation:

• Artistic Influence: His work, particularly from his final three years, profoundly influenced the development of modern art, including the Fauve painters and German Expressionists.12
• The "Tortured Artist" Myth: His life story—marked by poverty, mental health struggles, self-mutilation, and suicide—became central to his legend. This narrative of the struggling genius working in isolation resonates with the modern concept of the artist.12
• Personal Records: The letters he wrote, especially to his brother Theo van Gogh, provide a vivid, humanizing account of his life, which has been widely read and dramatized in films, books, and other media.12
• Public Fascination: High auction prices, exhibition attendance, and scholarly interest in his life and health have further cemented his status as one of the most recognized painters in history.1