What sort of life did Vincent van Gogh have?

Van Gogh's style is characterized by bright colors, thick paint, and visible brush strokes. The period or movement he worked in is Expressionism.

Just to add to the above answer. Though van Gogh is considered to be one of the pioneers of Expressionism, he started of as an impressionist and had the influence of impressionism and neo-impressionism early in his career.

Or rather Post-Impressionsm, a forerunner of Expressionism.