The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters (Hardcover)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) is one of the greatest figures in Western art. Revered for his bold, expressionist paintings, he is also admired as a prodigious and eloquent letter writer. His correspondence displays a remarkable literary gift and an ability to communicate his ideas and feelings about nature, art, and life in direct, emotive language.

Illustrated with works of art and letters that demonstrate Van Gogh’s abiding preoccupations--the role of color in painting, the cycles of nature, and friendship, for example--this fascinating book explores the correspondence as a self-portrait of the artist and the man.

 

The letter-sketches that Van Gogh used to describe completed works or those in progress are reproduced here alongside the finished paintings or drawings, providing a unique insight into his artistic development. Drawing on new and extensive research, leading authorities on Van Gogh reveal how the letters enhance and shape our view of this modern master.

About the Author

Nienke Bakker, Leo Jansen, and Hans Luijten are on the staff of the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. They are co-authors of Vincent Van Gogh, Painted with Words: The Letters to Emile Bernard and have recently published a new edition of Van Gogh’s complete correspondence.