Beneath a starry night: Celebrating Van Gogh's 162nd birthday

[Photo/Xinhua]

The Red Vineyard

As the only piece sold by the artist while he was alive, The Red Vineyard was painted in Nov.1888. In contrast with other similar works, the painting used vibrant red to portray the vineyard. Villagers were preparing themselves for picking grapes with a blazing sun illuminating every corner of the land.

This painting was sold in Brussels for 400 Francs only a few months before his death. In the last letter which he wrote to Theo, it says, "I try to do as well as certain painters whom I have greatly loved and admired." However, he died with everlasting regret of being called a nut for his different understanding of color use. The Red Vineyard is now on display at the Moscow Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.