Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter. His early works, mostly still lifes and depictions of peasant labourers, contain few signs of the vivid colour that distinguishes his later work. In 1886 he moved to Paris where he met members of the avant-garde, including Emile Bernard and Paul Gauguin, who were reacting against the Impressionist sensibility. As Van Gogh's work developed he created a new approach to still lifes and local landscapes. In the south of France in 1888, he turned to painting olive trees, cypresses, wheat fields and sunflowers, using brighter colours. Selling only one painting during his lifetime, he was considered a madman and a failure, and committed suicide at 37. His reputation began to grow in the early 20th century as Fauvists and German Expressionists took up elements of his painting style. He has attained widespread critical and popular acclaim, and is remembered as an important but tragic painter. His works are among the world's most expensive paintings.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1761:

Seven Years' War: Russian forces captured Kolberg, Prussia's last port on the Baltic coast, after a four-month siege. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kolberg_(Seven_Years%27_War)

1811:

The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes struck the Midwestern United States and made the Mississippi River appear to run backward. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1811%E2%80%9312_New_Madrid_earthquakes

1893:

Czech composer Antonín Dvořák's New World Symphony (audio featured) premiered at Carnegie Hall in New York City. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._9_(Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k)

1938:

Adolf Hitler instituted the Cross of Honour of the German Mother as an order of merit for Imperial German women. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Honour_of_the_German_Mother

1986:

Dinmukhamed Konayev was dismissed from the post of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, sparking riots throughout the country. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeltoqsan

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

middelmannetjie: A ridge between ruts made by wheels in a dirt or gravel road. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/middelmannetjie

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The Information Age offers much to mankind, and I would like to think that we will rise to the challenges it presents. But it is vital to remember that information — in the sense of raw data — is not knowledge, that knowledge is not wisdom, and that wisdom is not foresight. But information is the first essential step to all of these.   --Arthur C. Clarke https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke