Between the years of 1881 to 1890, Vincent van Gogh finished 900 paintings. This alone is a remarkable achievement, but when viewed in succession, one sees the gradual development of an artistic genius.

Below is a companion gallery for Episode 22 of Creative Codex. It is a gallery of selected works from the first seven years of Vincent’s paintings. These were all completed before his psychotic attacks begin. (In episodes 23 and 24 we explore Vincent’s final three years of paintings.)

As you explore the paintings, notice the shift in color and texture with each passing year. Vincent’s initial style uses very dark and subdued colors. Once he moves to Paris in 1887, there is a startling shift, and his colors come alive. Here we begin to see the beginnings of Vincent’s celebrated style.