Editing Vincent van Gogh (section)

== '''Introduction''' ==
'''Vincent van Gogh''' (1853–1890) is among the most famous painters in history, renowned for his emotive use of color and bold, swirling brushstrokes. In recent decades, psychologists have speculated that van Gogh exhibited many characteristics consistent with Asperger Syndrome or high-functioning autism. Professor Michael Fitzgerald, a pioneer in retrospectively diagnosing historical figures, frequently cites van Gogh as a prototypical example of a highly visual artist on the autism spectrum.

Van Gogh’s life was marked by monotropic obsession with art, profound social difficulties, sensory hypersensitivity, and repetitive routines – all hallmarks of Asperger’s. By applying Fitzgerald’s clinical heuristics, we can interpret van Gogh’s personality structure and creative output as primarily shaped by autistic traits. This '''AspiePedia''' entry examines van Gogh’s biography through that diagnostic lens, following a standard biographical format (Introduction, Early Life, Career, etc.) but reframing each section to foreground Asperger-specific insights. The framing remains categorical: van Gogh is treated as a high-confidence member of the autism spectrum, which provides a cohesive explanation for the otherwise puzzling combination of genius and turmoil in his life.