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Brotherly love: Vincent & Theo
The most momentous change in Van Gogh’s life was triggered by his younger brother Theo, who advised Vincent to become an artist. As time passed, Theo also gradually assumed the role of ‘wise older brother’. But why did he continue to finance Vincent? Was it the shrewd investment of an art dealer, or genuine brotherly love?
I don’t really have any friends except for you, and when I’m ill you’re always in my thoughts.
To Theo from The Hague, 22 July 1883
Vincent and Theo both began their careers at the international art firm Goupil & Cie. Vincent was taken on in The Hague in 1869, and Theo in Brussels in 1873. The letters they wrote kept them up to date with each other’s lives.
I’m glad that we’re both working for the same firm now. (...) You must in any case go to the museum often, it’s good to be acquainted with the old painters, too, and if you get the chance read about art, and especially magazines about art…
To Theo from The Hague, 19 November 1873
Vincent in 1872 at the age of nineteen
Vincent worked at Goupil & Cie. art dealers from 1869 until his dismissal in 1876. He was initially employed in The Hague, and later in London and Paris too. Van Gogh spoke fluent English and French. His letters to Theo regularly contain advice in all sorts of areas.
Theo, I must again recommend that you start smoking a pipe.
…find things beautiful as much as you can, most people find too little beautiful.
I advised you to go out quite a lot, but if you don’t like it, don’t do it.
Theo in 1878 at the age of twenty-one
Theo joined the firm Goupil & Cie. in 1873. He was employed first in Brussels and later in Paris, where he was appointed manager of the branch on Boulevard Montmartre in 1881. Theo continued to work there for the rest of his life.
Van Gogh family
Vincent and Theo’s father was a Protestant minister, with three sons and three daughters. The two brothers were the only members of the family involved professionally with the art world.
Theo’s career at Goupil was developing nicely, but Vincent’s heart wasn’t in it: he was dismissed in 1876 and forced to look for new work.
-do let’s continue to support each other and to seek brotherly love.
Vincent to Theo from Dordrecht, 22–23 April 1877
Following his dismissal from Goupil, Vincent worked in England for a while as an assistant schoolmaster and curate to a vicar. He sent Theo this drawing to show him the view from his workplace in the seaside resort of Ramsgate.
Letter from Vincent to Theo from Ramsgate, 17 April 1876
In addition to letters, Vincent sent Theo all sorts of other things: books, prints, chocolate and clothes. And one time, following a walk on the English south coast beach: ‘...a bit of seaweed’.
The naval shipyard in Amsterdam, where Vincent lodged with an uncle.
Vincent planned in 1877 to become a minister of the church. He prepared for his theological training in Amsterdam, but abandoned the idea after a year.
Vincent’s father’s Bible
The idea of becoming a minister was not a sudden one: Vincent had become increasingly engaged with religion even during his time in Paris. His letters to Theo were often full of references to faith:
‘Adieu, old boy, may God make us brothers more and more and join us intimately to one another, and may the Love for Him make that bond ever stronger.’
To Theo from Isleworth, 3 October 1876
The docks and the Grote Kerk in Dordrecht
Having returned from England, Vincent spent three months working in a bookshop in Dordrecht.
‘My dear Theo, The hours we spent together passed quickly, that small path behind the station where we saw the sun going down over the fields (...) I’ll walk there again and think of you.’
Vincent to Theo from Dordrecht, 26 February 1877
…we rightly came to the conclusion that first of all our goal must be to find a certain position and a profession to which we can devote ourselves entirely’.
To Theo from Amsterdam, 3 April 1878
Theo was well-established in the art trade, while Vincent decided to become a minister of the church. He had the necessary devotion, but he struggled to build a career.
‘In the south of Belgium (...) there is a region called the Borinage, where there is one of those populations of labourers who work in the many coal-mines. (...) I should like to go there as an evangelist.’
To Theo from Laeken, near Brussels, c. 13 November 1878
Vincent was no longer in paid employment, and took poor care of himself. Theo, who in the meantime had assumed the role of wise older brother, thought Vincent should look for a new job. Months went by with no contact between the two brothers.
Letter from Vincent to Theo from Cuesmes in Belgium, c. 22–24 June 1877
My dear Theo,
It’s with some reluctance that I write to you, not having done so for so long, and that for many a reason. Up to a certain point you’ve become a stranger to me, and I too am one to you, perhaps more than you think (...) I learned at Etten that you had sent fifty francs for me; well, I accepted them. Certainly reluctantly (...)but I’m in some sort of impasse or mess; what else can one do? And so it’s to thank you for it that I’m writing to you (...) and know that by writing you’ll do me good.’
Vincent to Theo from Cuesmes in Belgium, c. 22–24 June 1877
Vincent lived as a Protestant preacher among the impoverished miners of the Borinage region – the Walloon ‘Black Country’, where he was nicknamed ‘The Christ of the Coalmine’. Vincent gave away his possessions, gave Bible readings and visited the sick. His employers, however, did not consider him suitable for the work and let him go when his trial period ended.
Vincent wrestled with his desire to be useful. On Theo’s advice, he finally decided to become an artist. In his letters to his brother, he described his training and asked for advice:
‘I feel the need to study figure drawing . . . What do you think of the croquis? Does the idea seem good to you?’
Vincent to Theo from Cuesmes in Belgium, 20 August 1880
Letter from Vincent to Theo, c. 2 March 1884
Vincent moved back in with his parents again in late 1883, this time in Nuenen, where he set about painting farmers and weavers. Theo thought that the work Vincent was sending him was rather dark in colour, very different to the paintings being produced by modern artists in Paris. Vincent replied:
‘I think that what you say is true, that my work will have to get much better, but at the same time also that your efforts to do something with it might also be a little more decisive...'
You have never yet sold a single thing of mine – not for a lot or a little – and IN FACT HAVEN’T TRIED TO YET. As you can see, I’m not getting angry about it – but – there’s no need to beat about the bush.
Vincent to Theo, c. 2 March 1884
‘It’s because I think you’d prefer to see me doing something good than doing nothing at all that I’m writing to you on this subject, and perhaps it would be a reason why good understanding and friendship might be re-established between the two of us, and we might perhaps be useful to one another.’
Vincent to Theo from Cuesmes in Belgium, 20 August 1880
Vincent moved back in with his parents in Etten, in the Dutch province of North Brabant, in 1881. Theo had meanwhile been appointed manager at the Goupil company in Paris. He had a good salary, which he was also willing to share:
‘And this, first of all. I heard from Pa that you’ve already been sending me money without my knowing it, and in doing so are effectively helping me to get along. For this accept my heartfelt thanks.’ - Vincent to Theo, 2 April 1881
But you needn’t spare me, Theo, if it’s just a question of money, and if you, as friend and brother, retain some sympathy for the work, saleable or unsaleable. As long as that’s the case, that I still retain your sympathy in this respect, then it matters precious little to me (…)
Vincent to Theo from The Hague, 22 July 1883
Following a row with his father, Vincent walked out of his parents’ house on Christmas Day 1881 and rented a studio in The Hague. Theo supported him as best he could, but did not try to hide his opinion of Vincent’s behaviour toward their parents:
‘Dear Vincent,
(...) but what the devil made you so childish and so shameless as to contrive in this way to make Pa and Ma’s life miserable and nearly impossible?’
Theo to Vincent from Paris, 5 January 1882
Vincent wrote back to tell Theo what he thought of his parents’ rules and lifestyle. He did not regret leaving.
‘Please bear with me if I pretend for the time being that Pa and Ma don’t exist (...) Still, I enjoy life and, in particular, having my own studio is too wonderful for words. When will you come and have coffee or tea with me? Soon I hope. You can stay here too, if necessary, that would be nice and companionable.’
Vincent to Theo from The Hague, 8 or 9 January 1882
Theo suggested that Vincent should come to Paris to make the acquaintance of colourful contemporary French painting. First of all, however, Theo wanted to find a bigger apartment. Vincent decided not to wait.
My dear Theo, Don’t be cross with me that I’ve come all of a sudden. I’ve thought about it so much and I think we’ll save time this way. Will be at the Louvre from midday, or earlier if you like. A reply, please, to let me know when you could come to the Salle Carrée.
Vincent to Theo, Paris, on or about 28 February 1886
Living with Vincent proved not to be easy for Theo, who felt there were two people in his brother: ‘one marvellously gifted, refined and gentle, and the other selfish and unfeeling’.
Together, Vincent and Theo collected hundreds of Japanese prints, which became an important influence on Vincent’s work.
Utagawa Hiroshige, Sudden shower on the Great Bridge near Atake, from the series A hundred views of famous places in Edo, 1857
In a letter to their sister Willemien:
‘He is certainly an artist, and if what he makes now is not always beautiful, it will certainly be of use to him later; then his work will perhaps be sublime, and it would be a shame to have kept him from his regular study. However unpractical he may be, if he succeeds in his work there will certainly come a day when he will begin to sell his pictures.’
Theo to Willemien van Gogh, from Paris, 14 March 1887
Willemien van Gogh, Vincent and Theo’s sister
Theo described in the same letter how difficult it was to share a home with Vincent:
‘There was a time I loved Vincent and that he was my best friend, but that is now in the past. It appears to be even worse on his part, for he loses no opportunity to show that he detests me and that I repel him. This makes it almost unbearable for me at home.’
By the beginning of 1888, Vincent had grown tired of big city life. Leaving Theo behind in Paris, he took the 750-kilometre train ride to the South of France.
‘During the journey I thought at least as much about you as about the new country I was seeing.’
Vincent to Theo from Arles, 21 February 1888
Theo van Gogh
Following Vincent’s departure, Theo wrote to their sister Willemien that he missed his brother:
‘When he arrived here two years ago, I did not think we would become so attached, because there is a definite void here now that I am once more living alone in the apartment.’
Theo to Willemien from Paris, 24 and 26 February 1888
Vincent dreamed of founding an artists’ colony in the South of France. He would live and work alongside other artists in the ‘Yellow House’ in Arles. In the end, only Paul Gauguin joined him, with Theo having to pay his travel expenses.
‘So Gauguin’s coming; that will make a big change in your life. I hope that your efforts will succeed in making your house a place where artists will feel at home.’
Theo to Vincent from Paris, 19 October 1888
Vincent received Gauguin with open arms. Their collaboration began promisingly enough, but tension soon arose between them and by early December Gauguin was thinking about moving on again.
‘Gauguin and I talk a lot about Delacroix, Rembrandt &c. The discussion is excessively electric. We sometimes emerge from it with tired minds, like an electric battery after it’s run down.’
Vincent to Theo from Arles, 17 or 18 December 1888
‘I myself feel, to the point of being mentally crushed and physically drained, the need to produce . . . I believe that the day will come when I’ll sell too, but I’m so far behind with you, and while I spend I bring nothing in. That feeling sometimes makes me sad.’
Vincent to Theo from Arles, c. 25 October 1888
Theo’s reply:
‘You talk about money that you owe me and that you wish to pay back to me. I know nothing of that. What I’d like to see you achieve would be that you never had that concern. . . . You don’t know how you grieve me when you say that you’ll have worked so much that you’ll feel that you haven’t lived.’
Theo to Vincent from Paris, 27 October 1888
Vincent suffered a mental breakdown in the evening of 23 December 1888, becoming so confused that he cut off his left ear. The next morning, Gauguin sent a telegram to Theo, who took the night train to Arles to visit his brother.
Copy by Schuffenecker of Van Gogh’s self-portrait with bandaged ear
'I found Vincent in the hospital in Arles. The people around him realized from his agitation that for the past few days he had been showing symptoms of that most dreadful illness, of madness, and an attack of fièvre chaude, when he injured himself with a knife, was the reason he was taken to hospital. Will he remain insane?’’
Theo to his fiancée Jo Bonger from Paris, 28 December 1888
Letter from Vincent to Theo, 2 January 1889
Vincent from the hospital:
‘I’ll stay here at the hospital for another few days – then I dare plan to return home very calmly. Now I ask just one thing of you, not to worry, for that would cause me one worry too many.’
Vincent to Theo from Arles, 2 January 1889
Vincent was discharged from the hospital in Arles in January 1889. His wounded ear healed, but his mental health remained precarious, resulting in his rehospitalization. Fearing a fresh breakdown, he had himself admitted to Saint-Paul-de-Mausole psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy in May.
It pains me to know that you’re still in a state of incomplete health. Although nothing in your letter betrays weakness of mind, on the contrary, the fact that you judge it necessary to enter an asylum is quite serious in itself.
Theo to Vincent from Paris, 24 April 1889
Jo Bonger
Theo married Jo Bonger in April 1889. She addressed her first letter to Vincent as her ‘dear brother’: ‘(…) and here in the house there are masses of things that are reminders of you, when I find a nice little jug or a vase or something, then it’s always: Vincent bought that or V. liked that so much – scarcely a day passes when we don’t speak of you. (…) There’s also one of your paintings hanging above the piano in our drawing room (...) – a large one which I like very much – it’s a landscape near Arles.’ - Jo to Vincent, 8 May 1889
‘I hope that you’re well and your wife too, and that you’ll enjoy a little of the good weather. At least here we have splendid sunshine. As for me, my health is good, and as for the head it will, let’s hope, be a matter of time and patience.’
Vincent to Theo from Saint-Rémy, 31 May–6 June 1889
Whenever possible, Vincent continued to draw and paint avidly in the relative peace of the institution. As always, he sent his completed work to Theo.
Gezicht op de Alpilles
Theo and Jo’s son was born at the end of January 1890. They named the baby after his uncle: Vincent Willem van Gogh. Vincent was delighted by the news. He painted a large canvas for his baby nephew: almond branches against an intense blue sky, the early-blossoming tree serving as a symbol of new life.
Envelope from letter from Dr. Peyron to Theo
‘My dear Vincent, Dr Peyron writes to me that you have again been seized by an attack of your illness. My poor brother, I’m infinitely sorry that things aren’t going as they should. (...) It’s the only cloud in our happiness, for my dear brother, the bad moment for Jo is over. She has brought into the world a fine boy who cries a lot but who seems to be in good health. (...) As we told you, we’ll name him after you...’
Theo to Vincent from Paris, 31 January 1890
In the meantime, appreciation of Vincent’s work was tentatively growing in the Paris art world. Theo had submitted ten paintings to the Salon des Indépendants − the annual exhibition staged in reaction to the academic Salon.
‘How pleased I would have been if you’d been there at the Independents’ exhibition (...) Your paintings are well placed and look very well. Many people came up to ask me to give you their compliments.’
Theo to Vincent from Paris, 19 March 1890
The exhibition catalogue
Vincent left the mental hospital in Saint-Rémy in May 1890 and travelled to the artists’ village of Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris. He stopped off on the way to visit Theo and Jo, and his new nephew, Vincent Willem.
Then Theo drew him into the room where our little boy’s cradle was; he had been named after Vincent. Silently the two brothers looked at the quietly sleeping baby – both had tears in their eyes.
Jo van Gogh-Bonger in 'Brieven aan zijn broeder' (Letters to his brother), 1914
Things seemed to be improving. Vincent took great pleasure drawing and painting in the countryside around Auvers, and he also enjoyed a visit from Theo, Jo and baby Vincent Willem in June 1890.
Jo and Vincent Willem
The visit from Theo, Jo and his nephew Vincent Willem was good for Vincent. It was:
‘so peacefully quiet, so happy, that nobody would have suspected how tragically our happiness was to be destroyed a few weeks later.’
Jo van Gogh-Bonger in Brieven aan zijn broeder (Letters to his brother), 1914
Vincent paid Theo and Jo one last visit in Paris in early July 1890, but returned downcast. Theo was having problems at work and talked of setting up his own art firm. It was a bold plan, which also had implications for Vincent’s financial situation.
‘Once back here I too still felt very saddened, and had continued to feel the storm that threatens you also weighing upon me. What can be done . . . I feared – not completely – but a little nonetheless – that I was a danger to you, living at your expense – but Jo’s letter clearly proves to me that you really feel that for my part I am working and suffering like you.’
Vincent to Theo, c. 10 July 1890
On 27 July 1890, Vincent shot himself in the chest with a pistol. On hearing the news of his brother’s attempted suicide, Theo travelled to Auvers immediately and so was present at Vincent’s deathbed in the Auberge Ravoux.
Unsent letter from Vincent to Theo, 23 July 1890
Vincent had this letter on him when he attempted suicide on 27 July in a wheat field near Auvers. The stains might be blood from his self-inflicted gunshot wound.
I’ll always consider that you’re something other than a simple dealer in Corots, that through my intermediacy you have your part in the very production of certain canvases, which even in calamity retain their calm. For that’s where we are, and that’s all, or at least the main thing I can have to tell you in a moment of relative crisis.
Unsent letter from Vincent to Theo, 23 July 1890
(…) and then it was done. (...) I miss him so; everything seems to remind me of him.
Theo to Jo, 1 August 1890
Theo died in Utrecht in early 1891, six months after Vincent. His wife Jo published a book of Vincent’s letters to Theo in 1914 and had Theo reinterred that same year.
They rest side by side in the little cemetery amid the wheat fields of Auvers.
Jo van Gogh-Bonger in 'Brieven aan zijn broeder' (Letters to his brother), 1914
