Yep, one of the most well-known artists in history only sold one painting while he was alive: “Red Vineyard at Arles.” What’s even more fascinating is that the painting only sold a few months before he passed away in 1890. It’s unfortunate that someone so talented didn’t even get to see a modicum of the success that would follow after his death. He dealt extensively with mental illness throughout his life, and is known mostly for an incident involving him cutting his own ear off. It may be true what they say about people only caring about great artists after they’re dead.