阅读理解。
He lived his whole life as a poor man. His art and talent were recognized by almost no one. He
suffered from a mental illness that led him to cut off part of his left ear in 1888 and to shoot himself two
years later. But after his death, he achieved world fame. Today, Dutch artist Van Gogh is recognized as
one of the leading artists of all time.
Now, 150 years after his birth on March 30, 1853, Zundert, the town of his birth, has made 2003
"The Van Gogh Year" in his honor. And the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, home to the biggest
collection of his masterpiece, is marking the anniversary with exhibitions throughout the year. The
museum draws around 1.3 million visitors every year. Some people enjoy the art and then learn about
his life. Others are interested in his life, which then helps them understand his art.
Van Gogh was the son of the minister. He left school when he was just 15. By the age of 27, he
had already tried many jobs including an art gallery salesman and a French teacher. Finally in 1880, he
decided to begin his studies in art.
Van Gogh is famed for his ability to put his own emotion into his paintings and show his feelings
about a scene. His style is marked by short, broad brush strokes (绘画笔法). "Instead of trying to
reproduce exactly what I have before my eyes, I use color more freely, in order to express myself more
forcefully," he wrote in a letter to his brother in 1888.
Van Gogh sold only one painting during his short life. He relied heavily on support from his brother,
an art dealer who lived in Paris. But now his works are sold for millions of dollars. His portrait of Dr.
Gacher sold for ＄89.5 million in 1990. It is the highest price ever paid for a painting. "I think his
paintings are powerful and the brilliant color in them are attractive to people," said a Van Gogh's fan.
1. All through his life Van Gogh _____.
A. depended on his brother
B. worked hard on art studies
C. was not recognized by people
D. expressed himself in paintings
2. Van Gogh killed himself because of _____.
A. the poor life
B. his illness
C. his pain from left ear
D. the objections from the artists of his time
3. One of the characteristics of Van Gogh's paintings is _____.
A. the likeness between his paintings and the reality
B. the short time for him to complete a painting
C. the various styles mixed together
D. the special strokes he made
