Why Was Van Gogh's Career a Failure?

Van Gogh is one of the most lauded artists on Earth, yet his lifetime was one of misery and obscurity. So why was his art career such a failure, and how did he become the international superstar he is today? That is what we'll explore in this episode of SideQuest.
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A big THANK YOU to the selfless supporters of SideQuest for their limitless generosity:
JK, Leloo Wolf, Oskari Liukku, pmck, Aradhya Khandelwal, dancingvulture, Ciaran Hassan, Gabriel, Jeanne Moss, Scott Gibbs, Adrien Maillet, Kevin O'Connor
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Further Reading:
“The Letters of a Post-Impressionist” by Vincent Van Gogh - www.gutenberg.o...
“Van Gogh: A Self-Portrait” by W. H. Auden - www.forgottenb...

[@jonhanson8925]

This channel is like Van Gogh, toiling in obscurity and producing masterpiece after masterpiece without proper recognition.

[@laurioho2041]

The recognition is coming

[@ousamadearudesuwa]

he was not that good in being in the circles of rich art dealers

[@SwabcraftCreates]

Well they have 123,000 subs and many videos with hundreds of thousands of views. Though the animation could be more expensive than ad revenue on most of the videos.

[@boyankovachev7982]

I see that many other people also got those videos recommended. I mean, he really is great and I'm sad that there is so little content. I mean, I found the channel today and I have 4-5 more videos to watch. But I hope that if enough people find the channel, the dude will be able to post more frequently and earn money from here, cuz otherwise it ain't really worth it. Money are a very important part of creating content, especially so great content. And if I had the money, I would gladly support such a brilliant creator, cuz he really deserves it. One love ❤️

[@davescott7680]

I've shared with everyone I know

[@wondashozen]

Please never stop, because your channel is going to blow up so big. Glad I’m here from nearly the start!

[@blacksmeim8791]

Yes, i can smell the channel with a million subs in Mid 2022 right now

[@mittensfastpaw]

And here we go then!

[@Diana72910]

You were right

[@Wanderer628]

I've not been a fan of doctor who for a while but really appreciated the van gough episode where it brought him to the future to see how much people love and appreciate his work. Obviously it's not real and he died unappreciated but it's a beautiful thought nonetheless.

[@shastasilverchairsg]

WOW!!! I don't watch Dr Who, but I am just tremendously, tremendously blown away by that scene where he sees his work in the museum.

[@pianissimo7121]

I agree , i wish we had more of that than alien comedy and such complicated plots. It's the only scene in doctor who i will remember for a long time.

[@OwlcoholicTV]

What do you mean? It's a historical fact that this happened?: D

[@torben22.16]

@@OwlcoholicTV Well why do you think he went into a mental asylum?

[@SeanHiruki]

The sad thing is he was actually on the verge of success before he took his life. He was also not nearly as insane as people think he was.

[@pepijykyum]

As sane person, severe depression makes you do insane things. Going through it. It's hard. So really felt bad for him

[@johnkieley8994]

I’d say he may have potentially been autistic.

[@liberty.b.r]

​@@pepijykyumI hope you are doing okay, and God bless you.

[@katydid917]

It’s pretty damn insane to cut your ear off.

[@Captinpricey1]

Most underated youtube channel - why do these videos not get more views

[@kildevang98]

Yeah. I'm continually surprised that he's only got 12100 subscribers.

[@mambamentality9886]

Partly because it takes so long to get videos you have to know about the content to catch it. Then you binge all of them and wait, like all of us, for the next one in 3-4 week intervals

[@HattieMcDanielonaMoon]

@@kildevang98 13k now

[@sebastianharbom2137]

60k now

[@ReznovK]

I am watching since that "Rome bad at math" vid and still dont know why is this channel very underrated

[@user-ed9qu5im2y]

What I learned is confirmation that 60% of how well your art is received and whether you can be financially successful in art is marketing and profits for your patrons/ investors/ employers. Another 20% is probably social trends. The last 20% is your actual art.

[@ShermanWilliamsVideo]

My daughter is an artist and she'd agree. If you aren't wealthy and connected, you better work on having a good story and build those connections.

[@Casey_Truman]

Yep, it's a sad truth. That's why crap like Disney live-action remakes, Fast & Furious movies, superhero movies, etc. continue to be made. The actual art is so mediocre, but it doesn't matter because the marketing and investment behind them drowns out the quality art that's being made or could be made. And both the studios (investors) and the public are at fault for that.

[@bigfrankfraser1391]

According to popular lore, van Gogh sold only one painting in his entire life. This oft-repeated tale was challenged more than 30 years ago, but it still goes on. In fact, van Gogh sold at least two paintings in his lifetime, and some drawings as well.

[@just1it1moko]

being born in a village quite renown for having Van Gogh live there a few years (Nuenen, the Netherlands) and I live just a few blocks from his old house. Its always crazy to see how under appreciated he was in his time. the whole village calls itself "the Van Gogh Village" now for tourism. In Band Of Brothers an entire episode is set there and when they see a sign say "Nunen" (old spelling) they even say "Did you know Van Gogh was born there?!" which he wasn't but its good promotion i guess.

[@suekennedy1595]

Both Vincent Van goths were born there his his stillborn brother on exactly the same birthdate as Vincent Van Gogh , so he had to grow up with his name a birthday less on year on a tomb stone in his father church out side his family manse that must fuck you up .

[@echoofdawn7209]

Dutch failed artist : went to France, became depressed, shot himself Austrian failed artist : went to Germany, became "psychopath", shot himself

[@timewalker6654]

Such a stupid comment

[@jcrowley1985]

He wasn't a psychopath, he was trying to save his country from economic ruin .

[@mmmhmmm8236]

@@jcrowley1985 doesn't excuse starting the Holocaust and WW2.

[@DeltaDemon1]

@@jcrowley1985 The two aren't mutually exclusive and is therefore not an argument against him being a psychopath. Just because he was trying to save his country from economic ruin does not mean he was not a psychopath. Argue properly.

[@dandl2335]

it isnt sure that he were a psychopath

[@panzerjaeger016]

This is amazing!!!!!! HOW DO YOU NOT HAVE MORE THAN A 100,000?!?!!

[@dovydas4483]

Because people are too busy watching tiktoks than videos teaching history...

[@dovydas4483]

@@bigmoniesponge I see... but still, too much ppl using tiktok

[@sonicmeerkat]

Same way Vincent was unsuccessful in his lifetime

[@djcustoms6637]

He's not playing the KZbin game he needs videos longer than 10 minutes

[@arizonabusinessleague918]

Within 16-hours I've seen the subscribers go up 7,000. April 14, 2022

[@iwillfollow24]

It’s been a bit since we’ve seen your videos!!! Love them keep it up brotha

[@davidduffin1580]

Unfortunately, rich aristocrats couldn't place Van Gough's artwork within their drab grey Victorian architecture. He was ahead of his time, and other art forms let him down.

[@mikeofwar2684]

How this channel doesn't have more attention with the quality it has is beyond me.

[@DinoWinoSaur]

I really hope this channel blows up

[@EricNielsen85]

As usual, a great video from a great channel. Thank you guys.

[@antoniosalazar6211]

criminally underrated channel, keep up the good work !

[@jackbeach942]

There was a theory that a young man was excited about getting a pistol for his birthday and accidentally shot Vincent in the stomach but he walked home and told his brother to not investigate his death in order to keep the young man safe

[@pancake1308]

The wildly believed theory that he killed himself is still a debated topic. It just stuck with the populace like a meme

[@Slaps_Claps]

not every place is america

[@jackbeach942]

I'm sure there are a lot more gun restrictions in modern-day America then there were back then in Europe

[@MsEverAfterings]

@@Slaps_Claps hahaha i wish i can like this reply more

[@psyxypher3881]

@@Slaps_Claps Unfortunately for the world. The world would be better if more places were like America.

[@TurtleSauceGaming]

I love the air style of these videos. A little goofy at times, but that's the charm, and the narrator is great!

[@HaroldBarriosIsaac]

Expensive Van Gogh paintings sound like NFT art now by how much hyped the items were by their sellers to make the buyers overpay for them. Now I see how paintings become absurdly expensive

[@masterbigman8554]

Love the channel. Such an underrated one

[@zachdew9gaming985]

Keep up the quality of these videos and you will get all the recognition of your dreams. Right after you Pass into the great beyond and have your brothers widow spread awareness of course. Being alive to savor your success is just silly.

[@colinhannah3515]

Just found this channel - legit so good!!!

[@AskLeepy]

This channel is gaining subs fast, and it 100% deserves it.

[@whimai412]

Always so stoked to hear the ending "Siiiiiide Quuuuest!" 🤣👌

[@ikad5229]

As always, quality is over the edge! Great video man! Keep up the incredible work

[@thermus]

This is the first video (after two movies, and other youtube videos/documentaries) that explains the type of art movement Van Gogh painted and they reason why he became so famous. Thanks!

[@deefox7333]

I do have a similar problem just like Vincent van Gogh, I was a late bloomer into the social media art craze of the 2010s, around 2015 when I was 20, that's when I tried to take character designing seriously, however during that time there was other character designers and artists that had at least more than eleven or eighteen plus years of experience than I do, I have been drawing a lot since I was a young toddler, but I never bothered to take my skills to an expert level. Today my work is still amateurish in some ways, but I am improving on every new illustration, and from my experience, I can definitely tell what it's like to be Vincent van Gogh, difficult, impossible, unfair, and requires a ton of dedication.

[@drmantistobogganmd7595]

Cringe

[@TheDebater94]

Ladies and gentlemen, the Van Gogh of our time.

[@sammcdermott4270]

Van Gogh literally shot himself. Unless your suicidal then I don’t think you should be claiming you understand what it’s like to be him

[@karoliskulvietis7761]

:DDDDDDDD

[@HELLERLINE]

@@sammcdermott4270 What if I am though smh

[@HelgaCavoli]

Lesson: appreciate true artists and not only the money involved ones, you might be missing out.

[@cerebrummaximus3762]

Actual lesson: Americans like to meddle in everything ...Sometimes, they meddle correctly.

[@jaycowper]

I'm just glad that the Doctor took VVG to the museum and he got to see how beloved his art became in the modern era.

[@akechijubeimitsuhide]

That was such a great episode!

[@TheWarcryyyyy]

Omg! What a gem that I have discovered! +1 follower

[@MonstarAsher]

Hope your videos are seen by many more people!

[@LalinDissanayaka]

How can anyone get on KZbin when there are amazing channels like yours

[@alaknandakalkar880]

I appreciate your animation skills and commentary in the video thanku for content best of luck

[@MyRegardsToTheDodo]

Johanna Bonger didn't donate any paintings to any museum, she organized quite a few exhibitions all over the world, that she partially paid for herself. She never had to sell any paintings for money, that's why she could set the prices for Van Gogh's paintings quite high, and showed his best works only in exhibitions. Most of his paintings were kept in the family and when Johanna Bonger died her son, Vincent Willem Van Gogh, inherited them. He founded the Van Gogh Foundation in 1960, and gave the paintings to it. The paintings are now shown at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. All in all, Johanna van Gogh-Bonner was quite the businesswoman and got quite a bit out of her two-year marriage to Theo van Gogh.

[@suekennedy1595]

The world was a better place for her keeping Vincent’s art works safe and I think she really believed in his genius,you do have to feel for a young widower with a 12 month old to provide for .I don’t begrudge her any wealth she got from her inheritance from Van Gogh.

[@MyRegardsToTheDodo]

@@suekennedy1595 I don't know if she believed in Vincent's genius or was "just" a very savy businesswoman. I think her husband (Vincent's brother) was the one who really understood art, he did collect quite a lot of paintings from different artists that got pretty valuable over time. But it's definitely thanks to her that a lot of Vincent's work didn't end up in some private vaults.

[@Funisim]

Watching at least 4 vids before bed since 2 weeks, gold mine of content

[@arfuiri1797]

At the moment i discovered this channel it has 130k subs,lets see how much it grows in a year

[@dirtegarbage]

My art teacher said he was shot by two guys in a field who were trying to clear foxes or something like that out a few years after he left the hospital lol she should really watch this

[@SideQuestYT]

There is actually a bit of controversy surrounding his death; as you say there are claims that he was shot and just didn't bother naming his assailants. Unfortunately there's precious little evidence to go around, so we'll likely never know for sure.

[@hansolo2121]

​@@SideQuestYT Yeah it would have probably gone like this: Hey I am a weird foreigner painter artist who speaks French with a heavy Dutch accent and I have been in your village only for two months. So you don't know me at all. I am staying with doctor Gachet because I am considered by many to be insane. I sometimes eat paint. As you can see I have cut my entire left ear off in a spell of violent madness. My question is: can I borrow your gun? And someone said: yeah man sure!! Take my gun!! I don't know who you are but have fun with it!! Really?

[@sasafrkovc8952]

He was killed by children who were playing cowboys

[@hankworden3850]

No

[@akshaykumarjha9136]

@@sasafrkovc8952 yeah they apparently accidentally shot him. And Vincent didn't want to implicate children for a genuine mistake so he told everyone that he shot himself.

[@yiffytimes]

Vincent did not kill him, it is suspected he was murdered. Due to the angle the bullet was fired, he would have fired the gun with his toes.

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

For those who really care about art and Van Gogh, they definitely need to watch the Doctor Who episode with him in it if they haven't already. The Doctor : Between you and me, in a hundred words, where do you think Van Gogh rates in the history of art? Curator : Well... um... big question, but, to me Van Gogh is the finest painter of them all. Certainly the most popular, great painter of all time. The most beloved, his command of colour most magnificent. He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world, no one had ever done it before. Perhaps no one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence was not only the world's greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived. I did post the big quote here but the video is so much better.

[@ianflemings4989]

Finally found this channel full of gold

[@kevinmorrice]

0:24 that has proven to be wrong, during his life he had many commissions and sold at least a couple originals that is known of edit: Vincent sold his first painting to the Parisian paint and art dealer Julien Tanguy, and his brother Theo successfully sold another work to a gallery in London, The Red Vineyard, which Vincent painted in 1888 - source, the van gogh museum

[@gc6096]

Time for historical binge! :D

[@spongeyspikes09]

From Doctor Who "I've begun to accept that the only one who's ever going to love my paintings is me" Oh Vincent... If only you knew 😢

[@muhammedpatel2909]

Straight To the Point, Humor & Interesting Content. Brilliant, Thanks... 👌

[@maximealoe244]

1:16 That's a beautiful countryside, good thing Paris relocated

[@masstv9052]

I hope this channel takes off

[@SmashingCapital]

Uuuuuh

[@coda821]

Van Gogh avoided "success", because he didn't like the company he would have to keep. So he had different priorities, and got what he wanted out of life. But since he didn't get what others wanted out of life he was considered a failure. I consider ppl who chase what others want out of life, instead of what they themselves want, failures.

[@user-lu4fk7yp8v]

He never got what he really wanted. Not one friend.

[@kausamsalam8543]

Thank you for this video. Great style. 🌻

[@pabixiao]

These animations are soo good! I love it. I'm gonna binge watch this chanel

[@MyPhobo]

Hey I work by the DIA, you actually did a pretty good job drawing it.

[@TheDeadmanTT]

Big deal. I'll also die miserable, broke and alone. And who knows what'll happen to MY paintings!

[@roll14tideroll]

Same but I’m a writer pointlessly self-publishing novels that never make me more than 50 bucks

[@john-wiggains]

How do we get you on the front page of youtube? These are so good. I want to learn to do a voice impression after you. It’s probably my favorite narration voice.

[@AnilArya51]

Keep going! BTW, great work

[@nicholasg3250]

Another great video

[@rhettshanley8712]

I went to the DIA Vincent V.G exhibit pretty cool. Never knew that they were one of the first American museums to have a piece of his

[@uplink-on-yt]

Your children and grandchildren will benefit greatly from this channel.

[@catarattwo]

i love his old hair 0:57

[@donottrustanyonelol]

This is very underrated wow

[@jeoffarma1633]

I watched all your videos in one sitting! Your voice is relaxing and your show very informative. Keep it up Sir Quest! 👌

[@Steven-dt5nu]

Love your videos

[@jononpaper]

1:17 ah yes, Bonn, the heart of impressionism.

[@a20000211]

This is amazing, awesome job. Subscribed.

[@DeltaDemon1]

Vincent Van Gogh actually sold many paintings during his lifetime...as an art dealer. He only sold one of HIS paintings but he sold many paintings.

[@warrainb5405]

As an artist, I have traded my work for art supply's and food.

[@karphin1]

Reading a book that indicates that German and Dutch collectors, showed and bought his work! He became very famous in Germany and Then France and the Netherlands. Not JUST American collectors.

[@yonicent]

I have the same life and i think that my destiny is pretty same... what can i do for no ending like that?

[@fxitfastah]

love the voice and art style but one thing, he didn't shot himself, an investigation tells us, he couldn't make the angle with gun to shoot himself, this investigation also showed who might have shot him.(two boys were playing in the same field, with a revolver, Vincent tried to take the gun and that's how he got shot.

[@Caroleonus]

That makes sense. Why would you shoot yourself in the gut, of all places?

[@fxitfastah]

@@Caroleonus Well he was known to inflict severe damage to himself and if ya want to die horribly slow and in agony, this one way to do it proper xD

[@ashleyblewitt1921]

Brilliant channel seriously underated subscribed

[@LeNormieHater]

You know who else had a sad life, my mom

[@satoshijon3730]

amazing work as always

[@fizkallnyeilsem]

2:04 oh shit, i just know that feeling, maybe in the same position im in :( , i just found out about Van after all years of disinterest in art history, what a figure

[@kobefujimoto1419]

Amazing video!

[@alexthegreat8874]

Great video! I understand that it's humorously presented, but I believe that I heard he actually was shot accidentally by an adolescent. Interesting and fun video!

[@kevinbergin9971]

There is a museum in Houston, TX where you walk into a room on the 2nd floor and see this powerful Van Gogh. Anyone know what I mean?

[@blendrugova2426]

Comenting for the algorithm.

[@comradecid]

having supported a career as a creative for a few decades now, i find it simultaneously unsurprising yet disappointing to know that in the 130-odd years following van gogh's death, little to nothing has changed with regard to the mechanics of the art industry, or the perception of value of creative work.

[@sulIy]

Nice video

[@mrgopnik5964]

Moral of the story: if you really have no idea for what you should do with your life, don’t pursue an art career (that includes KZbin), just try out what your dad or uncle recommend and as long as you don’t hate it you should be fine.

[@gandalflotr2898]

Like politics

[@coolcat8b]

Thank you for another interesting video beautifully animated. 😊 You deserve so many more views + subscribers than you currently have. I'll do anything I can to let people know about this channel.

[@knutzzl]

He only sold one painting he made himself. Before he started painting he worked at several art galleries, selling hundreds of paintings made by others.

[@filthymercymain2878]

I love your style dude.

[@mafelfanai]

This channel will certainly gain millions of subs one day.

[@thiagomennabarretoguedes2835]

Van Gogh didn't shoot himself. A seventeen year old bully from Arles used to act as a cowboy (Vincent called him "Buffalo Bill") and accidentaly shot Van Gogh. But he only admitted it more than fifty years later.

[@prathamatwal936]

Well we all know paintings are only worth money when theirs painter are dead for my I knowledge I don’t know any paints sold for big money when their painter are alive , I don’t have good knowledge of painter so fell free to tell me your opinion

[@MasterChaoko]

Counterpoint: Banksy

[@blackbloodwolf]

I'm ashamed that I'm a Detroit native and didn't know this.

[@alhaadhussain6256]

This channel will blow up soon

[@gikal8118]

This channel Will blow up in subs soon

[@lukealadeen7836]

Vincent's career was not a failure. If you think that then I'd love to see what your career is like. He once wrote to Theo "I feel like a rich man because I have something to dedicate my life to"

[@TehCthulhu]

Fun Fact: Van Gogh actually sold many paintings. He worked in Theo's gallery and sold the paintings on display. None of them were his.

[@mythoughtsinyourass9711]

Let give a shout out to vincent sister in law who is the one who actaully make him famous afterwards.

[@mittensfastpaw]

He had it rough.

[@lucyreynolds4739]

Love this!

[@ArienvanRijswijck]

Well I used to be painter myself , and my mindset is : it's madness that seperates a painter from a true artist.

[@heavensfield494]

“I write for the sake of writing, knowing that even in death I wouldn’t be recognized, praise, and I known” - not me but it’s a rule I lives by-

[@sweny56]

Thanks!

[@bentimmer295]

Ayyy the DIA looking out for our boy Vincent 🤙

[@maxlostchild7187]

Good video.

[@fireaza]

Well, you know what they say. Easy come, easy Gogh.

[@PreistofGHAZpork]

Commenting to boost the algorithm

[@hsgame4088]

Why didnt i know abt this channel bruhh I think its because videos arent longer and they dont get pushed