Vincent van Gogh died from a gunshot wound to the chest that he inflicted on himself. On July 27, 1890, he shot himself in the chest with a revolver, but the bullet was deflected by a rib and passed through his chest without causing immediate fatal damage. He was able to walk back to his lodging, where he was treated, but he died about two days later from an infection caused by the wound on July 29, 1890. His last words to his brother Theo were reportedly, "The sadness will last forever".

There is some debate about whether his death was a suicide or if foul play was involved, but the traditionally accepted view is that it was suicide, supported by the testimonies of his doctors and brother.