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Van Gogh

Name: Van Gogh
Author: Vincent Van Gogh
ISBN: 9783829029384

by Vincent Van Gogh

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Overview

Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) has become, in the century following his death, a man on first-name terms with the world. His brief but eventful life has inspired the scrutiny of other painters, filmmakers, psychologists and novelists, and his personal celebrity outstrips even the substantial fame of his works. While the popular appeal of such pictures as Sunflowers or Starry Night resides in their seemingly emotion-fuelled spontaneity, they are in fact the products of a reflective and idea-driven man who was profoundly interested in and inspired by all manner of literary, musical and artistic sources. Spanning his early work in the Netherlands, the period of experimentation in Paris, and the evocative landscapes and vibrant portraits made in Provence and Auvers, this survey makes extensive use of Van Gogh's own correspondence to illuminate his artistic development and the personal vision that lies behind his work. The result is a balanced and sensitive account of this most innovative and influential of artists.

About the Author, Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) was born near Brabant, the son of a minister. Largely self-taught as an artist, he moved to Paris in 1886 and lived with his devoted brother, Theo, who as a dealer introduced him to artists like Gauguin, Pissarro, Toulouse-Lautrec and Seurat. In 1888, he moved to Arles hoping to establish an artists' colony. He was joined briefly by Gauguin in October 1888, but the visit was not a success. A final argument led to the infamous episode in which van Gogh mutilated his ear. In 1889 he became a voluntary patient at the St. Remy asylum, where he continued to paint. He moved to Auvers to be closer to Theo in 1890. He died, having sold only one work, following a botched suicide attempt.