Vincent van Gogh almost always signed his paintings with just his first name, Vincent, rather than his surname or his full name. At that time in the 19th century, painters usually signed their work with either their full name or just their surname. Why did Van Gogh choose to use only is first name?
‘Actually not a “Van Gogh”’
Vincent's relationship with his family, especially his father, was a bit difficult because they had different views on both personal and professional matters. In a letter to his brother Theo dated December 1883, Vincent talks about an argument he had with his father not long before, and how he saw himself in relation to his family:
‘At present I’m observing Pa – I see, I hear, I feel what Pa is – and I don’t like it – decidedly not. If you are thus, if you’re becoming more and more thus – then it’s wise to part.’
He continued:
‘are you a “Van Gogh” too? I always regarded you as “Theo”. In character I’m quite different from the various members of the family, and I’m actually not a “Van Gogh”’.
Vincent also wrote in the same letter that he didn’t want to be identified with the traditional views his surname was being linked with.
