What book is the best biography of vincent van gogh. Using the skills and psychological insights of an accomplished novelist, and drawing upon new van gogh materials which have surfaced in the last two decades, mr. Though countless books have been written about van gogh, no serious, ambitious examination of his life has been attempted in more than seventy years. This book works beautifully around the idea of a romance between the painter and the doctors daughter, in the months right before vincent took his own life, in the summer of 1890. The life 2011 by steven naifeh and gregory white smith another doorstopper, at 953 pages, it is the definitive biography. Van gogh s life is at the source of this complex, and yet remains outside of it, possessing an aura the replicas lack. The life and works of vincent van gogh by janice anderson. The life by steven naifeh and gregory whitesmith vincent and theo. While in paris, van gogh transformed the subjects, color and techniques that he used in creating still life paintings he saw the work and met the founders and key artists of impressionism. A life in letters is a valuable personal introduction to the artists life and work, with illuminating commentaries by experts on the subject. Vincent willem van gogh 30 march 1853 29 july 1890 was a dutch postimpressionist painter. This is the most entertaining biography of vincent van gogh i have ever read.
Still life vincent van gogh art paintings for sale ebay. The life, steven naifeh and gregory white smith provide a guided tour through the personal world and work of that dutch painter, shining a bright light on the evolution of his art. The language in the novel is very readable and consistent with the norms of american society in 1934 and as such there is no vulgar language. Books by vincent van gogh author of the letters of vincent. Along with the authors interpretive points were the well known parts of van gogh s timeline in life. Secrets of van gogh by liesbeth heenk nov 24, 20 4. From prior bios we know vincent was a voracious reader. A life in letters is a beautifully produced selection of about a tenth of his surviving letters, culled by nienke bakker, leo jansen and hans luijten of the van gogh museum from. Van gogh was brought up in a religious and cultured family.
Read on your computer, mac, smartphone, kindle reader, ipad, or tablet. Lust for life is a very good debut novel authored by irving stone. Vincent van gogh simple english wikipedia, the free. This novel and the 1956 film further enhanced his fame, especially in the united states where stone surmised only a few hundred people had heard of van gogh prior to his surprise bestselling book. Lust for life a fictional biography of vincent van gogh. The books symbolize the different worldviews of van gogh and his father. Vincent van goghs image is cemented in our cultural memory. In a decade, he created about 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, most of which date from the last two years of his life. The very, very best is van gogh himself, in his collected letters. I found this book interesting for a number of reasons. A wonderful collection of van gogh s letters from june 1880 to the month of his death. Callow treats more searchingly than any previous work the development of van goghs genius and his emergence as an artist after early struggles to find a vocation, first in the world of art dealing and later as an evangelical missionary among belgian miners. Theo van gogh by chris stolwijk and richard thomson, with a contribution by sjraar van heugten waanders, 1999. Dec 11, 2011 the bond between brothers transcends all lines and theos steadfast support is in fact the reason vincent van gogh has a name today.
Callow sets a turbulent life story firmly in historical context, including vincent s desperate attempts to accept his repressive religious upbringing, and his unhappy experiences in love. Art historians discover place where van gogh painted his last. Vincent van gogh does not belong to any painting school, though he shared with the impressionists a feeling for light and colour, and like them, preferred to. It is a testament to their bond that they are both buried side by side at auverssuroise. New book details the lives of vincent van goghs sisters through their. The book deals with the love between a man and a woman and can be read as a moral lesson. The book establishes early on that van gogh was at best quirky and at worst had a. Published in conjunction with the exhibition theo van gogh 18571891, art dealer, collector and brother of vincent, this book is a wonderful exploration of the life of vincent s brother, theo van gogh. It was stones first major publication, and is largely based on the collection of letters between vincent van gogh and his younger brother, art dealer theo van gogh.
Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. Callow treats more searchingly than any previous work the development of van goghs genius and his emergence as an artist after early struggles to find a vocation, first in the world of art dealing and later as an evangelical. Callow spends the majority of the book in the early life then hastily writes of the final years when the artist was most prolific and prone to madness. Naifeh and smith have recreated van goghs life with an astounding vividness and psychological acuity that bring a completely new and sympathetic understanding to this unique artistic genius. Oil painting vincent van gogh a pair of leather clogs shoes nice still life. As far as the collected letters of vincent van gogh, be sure you look for the edited or abridged, version. Even though theo van gogh is a supporting character in the book, his presence is ever maintained by the author. That vincent van goghs life was such a brutally painful and difficult one should not deter readers from embarking on this massive journey, yet the fact that a 951page book reaches page 750 before the subject has what could genuinely be called a period of happiness is a testament to the skill with which the book is written, for despite the utterly depressi. Vincent van gogh biography, life and times van gogh gallery. As a biographical novel, its a powerful piece of literature and was painstakingly researched. Working with the full cooperation of the van gogh museum in amsterdam, naifeh and smith have accessed a wealth of previously untapped materials.
Steven naifeh and gregory white smith, who galvanized readers with their pulitzer prizewinning biography of jackson pollock, have. The majority of van gogh s bestknown works were produced during the final two years of his life. Oct 21, 2011 in writing this book and providing a companion web site with notes, the authors drew heavily on archival material and scholarship at the van gogh museum in amsterdam and most notably from a new. A group of art historians has discovered the exact location where vincent van.
The dashes of lemon, pink, orange and green seem to bring life to the books, like the blossoming flower that 52 also adds a feeling that the paintings is made for a woman. Illustrated with original manuscript letters, sketches, paintings, and photographs of correspondents, this book brings van gogh s story and work to life. The life by steven naifeh paperback 1 229,00 in stock. He was a prolific letter writer but only some of them are. Another doorstopper, at 953 pages, it is the definitive biography. What the authors capture so powerfully is van goghs extraordinary will to learn, to persevere against the odds. He was very emotional and he did not have a great deal of selfconfidence. That vincent van gogh s life was such a brutally painful and difficult one should not deter readers from embarking on this massive journey, yet the fact that a 951page book reaches page 750 before the subject has what could genuinely be called a period of happiness is a testament to the skill with which the book is written, for despite the utterly depressi. Art historians discover place where van gogh painted his. In 1934, the novelist irving stone wrote a biographical novel of van gogh s life titled lust for life, based on van gogh s letters to theo. Published on the hundredth anniversary of van goghs death, this is the first fulllength biography of this undying man in twenty years and surely the most comprehensive account to date. The woman who made vincent van gogh the new york times. A life in letters is a valuable personal introduction to the artists life and work, with illuminating commentaries by. Vincent van gogh is one of the worlds most famous artists, and his paintings are among the worlds most valuable.
During the fall and winter of 1888, vincent van gogh and paul gauguin lived and worked together in arles in the south of france, where van gogh eventually rented four rooms at 2 place lamartine, which was dubbed the yellow house for its citron. Born in 1853 in brabant, the netherlands, vincent willem van gogh was the eldest son of theodorus van gogh 182285, a pastor in the dutch reformed church, and anna cornelia carbentus 18191907. His brilliant work and tragic life, combined with a paper trail of letters to his artdealer brother, theo. His mother, anna cornelia carbentus, was an artist. The van gogh brothers by deborah heiligman vincent by. New book details the lives of vincent van goghs sisters through. He was the eldest son of the reverend theodorus van gogh 1822 1885 and anna cornelia carbentus 1819 1907, whose other children were vincents sisters elisabeth, anna, and wil, and his brother theo and cor. Reading vincent van gogh through fiction book riot. Van gogh s greatest letters, which will open in october. The 1hour van gogh book is an accessible introduction to the life and work of van gogh, drawing from a vast number of. The book comes ahead of an exhibition at the van gogh museum in amsterdam, your loving vincent.
There is much dialogue that has to have been imagined. The books are meant to represent seven parisian novels van gogh owned, that van gogh described as a great source of light, regardless of the somber literature they contain. Still life paintings by vincent van gogh paris wikipedia. Lust for life 1934 is a biographical novel written by irving stone about the life of the famous dutch painter vincent van gogh and his hardships. A year with vincent van gogh is a fully illustrated book of anthony david padgetts life changing project studying the legacy of van gogh. The archetypal starving artist, vincent died aged just 37 by his own hand, poor, isolated, and, in. Everything about van gogh in this article came from either that book or this article. There is also a fairly strange delusional episode that the. Wheatfield with crows, 1890, van gogh museum, amsterdam. His work had a great influence on modern art because of its striking colours and emotional power.
Get the best deals on still life vincent van gogh art paintings when you shop the largest online selection at. The life by steven naifeh and gregory white smith random house, 2011. In lamour by jules michelet 1858, vincent van gogh found wisdom he could apply to his own love life. Nov 20, 2011 vincent van gogh is an extraordinary artist about whom everything seems to be known. The 1956 film, based on irving stones 1934 novel, helped turn both the artist and the actor into global. The battles he fought throughout his life are apparent as he writes to his beloved brother and his enthusiasm for his work is clear in his letters to theo and his artist friends. Vincent van gogh s life and work is detailed in this biography. Life, work and mental illness secrets of van gogh volume 2 book 2 of 5. Callow sets a turbulent life story firmly in historical context, including vincents desperate attempts to accept his repressive religious upbringing, and his unhappy experiences in love.
A life from the worlds largest community of readers. Kirk douglas, who portrayed vincent van gogh in lust for life, died last week, aged 103. The life 2011 by steven naifeh and gregory white smith. Dec 30, 2016 this book is a nofrills approach to the life and artistic legacy of vincent van gogh. Lust for life 1934 is a biographical novel written by irving stone about the life of the famous dutch painter vincent van gogh and his. Vincent van gogh march 30, 1853 july 29, 1890 was born on 30 march 1853 in zundert, a village in the southern province of north brabant. Little is known about vincents early years other than that he was a quiet child with no obvious artistic talent. Two american writers have dug deep, providing a highly. Learn about van goghs life, read his letters, explore his paintings and drawings, and other.
This correspondence lays the foundation for most of what is known about the. Illustrated with original manuscript letters, sketches, paintings, and photographs of correspondents, this book brings van goghs story and work to life. A memoir of vincent van gogh lives of the artists by jo van goghbonger and martin gayford may 22, 2018. Vincent van gogh still life with bible van gogh museum. I feel like i have begun to know vincent and theo a little.
I have a threevolume set published by abbeville press, but i think there are smaller edited versions. Read a biography of dutch postimpressionist artist vincent van gogh. It is a very human portrait of a vastly tormented genius. He was born vincent willem van gogh on 30 march 1853 in grootzundert, netherlands. Still life paintings by vincent van gogh paris is the subject of many drawings, sketches and paintings by vincent van gogh in 1886 and 1887 after he moved to montmartre in paris from the netherlands. Firstly his family background was discussed which gave a fuller picture of the artist, his training and the financial support he was given which contrasted with the normal picture of an unloved, penniless madman. Vincent van gogh does not belong to any painting school, though he shared with the impressionists a feeling for light and colour, and like them, preferred to work out of doors. Before we flip the calendar to 2016, and start new reading lists, lets look back at the reading year that was. That vincent van goghs life was such a brutally painful and difficult one. Get quick facts, a timeline, information about his family and artists who influenced him. Van gogh, gauguin, and nine turbulent weeks in arles 2. However the story is also faithful to the life of vincent van gogh and as such is a semi fictional biography in the same context as a historical novel.
Kirk douglas played van gogh in 1950s film lust for life. Books by vincent van gogh author of the letters of. Van gogh has painted marguerite gachet, the daughter of his physician in auverssuroise, twice. The battles he fought throughout his life are apparent as he writes to his beloved brother and his enthusiasm for his work is. Van gogh by steven naifeh meet your next favorite book.
1765 14 836 670 782 1194 1359 462 1718 33 53 1430 1197 654 1202 1022 863 273 769 1059 1779 997 1128 1102 1750 944 1863 1085 1356 349 845 1713 816 1205