Most people know Vincent van Gogh as one of the greatest artists in history. Most people also know that he cut off his own ear, struggled with his mental health, and that his life ended early from a gunshot to the chest. In the National Gallery’s first major van Gogh exhibition, we look further into the life of a legend.

Van Gogh’s tragic life is so well known that it has almost become art historical folklore. He is the archetype of the tragic artistic genius, and that image of him has been as foundational to the canon of art history as his paintings, both epitomising Expressionism – the art of emotion.

Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers at the National Gallery shows us that van Gogh’s was more than the impoverished, tortured genius that most believe him to be. The exhibition shows that he was also deeply intentional and driven. His paintings and drawings show a serious and dedicated understanding of what direction art was heading in towards the end of the 19th century. It shows a palpable confidence in his own work, which he called ‘art of the future’.

The exhibition particularly focuses on the period between 1888 and 1890 when van Gogh was in Arles and Saint-Rémy in the South of France. He experienced incredible productivity during this time, developing his style and creating some of his most well-known paintings, such as Bedroom in Arles and many of his Sunflower series. This is where he created one of the most showcased paintings of the exhibition, ‘The Poet’, marking the point in his career when he decided that intensely heightened colour would be essential to his works going forward.

In the latter half of this breakthrough period van Gogh lived in a psychiatric hospital in Saint Rémy. His residency here marks a peaceful and productive chapter of his life. He created many paintings of the hospital and its grounds, taking inspiration from literature and poetry. His work from this time shows how he saw the physical world around him as deeply steeped in colour, swirling shapes and romantic notions.

Although Vincent van Gogh’s legacy is one of isolation, he strived to contribute to the artistic community. He had grand ideas about the future of painting, and he was eager to share them through his works. Exhibition on Screen’s latest documentary allows us to experience the fruition of his dream as displayed by the National Gallery.

Watch Exhibition on Screen: Van Gogh - Poets & Lovers at Showroom Cinema in December.