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The Murder of Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh is the world’s most popular and expensive artist, the father of modern art, and yet no one really knows how he died, when, how or where. If he didn’t commit suicide, what happened?
If Vincent did commit suicide, why would the master of expressionism fail to express himself on his own death?
Why would a man whose art, beloved for its effusiveness, remain mum on this most primary of primary motives; why not reveal his motives for snuffing out his own yellow flame?
Why would someone who wrote so many letters – 830 that we know of, at a rate of almost a letter a day – fail to write a suicide note on the day of his death?
Why would anyone who wanted to escape his painful existence, shoot himself in the stomach, only to endure an agonising 30 hour exit?
Why did Vincent cut off his ear, and how much ear did really he cut off? Does the calculus hold, that the bigger the piece of severed ear, the more tortured, the more mad, the artist must be in the eyes of the world?
Why was Vincent such a tortured artist? What is the modern medical diagnosis for his particular brand of mental illness?
“We want to inflate the various theories into bulging balloons, float them alongside one another and then reach for the true crime needle. The process of popping the unlikelier versions dogging Vincent’s story, fundamental as it may be to the popular museum and PR narrative, must be balanced by the synthesis of a new version, a new integrated picture of what happened that has never been painted before…”
In The Murder of Vincent van Gogh true crime maestro Nick van der Leek does what few have done in over a century of feverish postulations – he blows away the murk and reveals the motive behind the most beloved artist’s unhappy end, and does so in expressive, crystal clear detail.
If Vincent did commit suicide, why would the master of expressionism fail to express himself on his own death?
Why would a man whose art, beloved for its effusiveness, remain mum on this most primary of primary motives; why not reveal his motives for snuffing out his own yellow flame?
Why would someone who wrote so many letters – 830 that we know of, at a rate of almost a letter a day – fail to write a suicide note on the day of his death?
Why would anyone who wanted to escape his painful existence, shoot himself in the stomach, only to endure an agonising 30 hour exit?
Why did Vincent cut off his ear, and how much ear did really he cut off? Does the calculus hold, that the bigger the piece of severed ear, the more tortured, the more mad, the artist must be in the eyes of the world?
Why was Vincent such a tortured artist? What is the modern medical diagnosis for his particular brand of mental illness?
“We want to inflate the various theories into bulging balloons, float them alongside one another and then reach for the true crime needle. The process of popping the unlikelier versions dogging Vincent’s story, fundamental as it may be to the popular museum and PR narrative, must be balanced by the synthesis of a new version, a new integrated picture of what happened that has never been painted before…”
In The Murder of Vincent van Gogh true crime maestro Nick van der Leek does what few have done in over a century of feverish postulations – he blows away the murk and reveals the motive behind the most beloved artist’s unhappy end, and does so in expressive, crystal clear detail.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2018
32 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 17, 2018
Great and entertaining read
July 3, 2023
If you’re interested in Van Gogh read this book! This extraordinary author has written an accessible, engaging, well thought out, masterfully detailed account of one of the greatest distortions in history. Not many authors can include so much information in 251 pages and make it not only work, but weave together such a sustained wealth of ironic observations, facts, psychological analysis & insights, combined with some beautiful prose and true crime expertise. Van Der Leek also has the ability to use the exact quotes, letters, & sources needed to illuminate each scene or event he’s describing seamlessly. You’ll close this book not only knowing about Van Gogh intimately and what really happened, but also about the people around him, art, history, places and more. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Vincent Van Gogh and his true story and I plan on reading much more of this author’s works.
October 4, 2018
The idea of this book really caught my attention. Vincent van Gogh has always had an aura of mystery surrounding his life and paintings which is explored in this wonderful book. The author has done an amazing amount of research in order to write it. It explores some of the theories of mental health and treatments with vivid descriptions which were not pleasant by any standards. However, that being said, I did enjoy reading this book and found that it left the reader with a better understanding of this complex and wonderfully talented painter. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
September 9, 2018
An amazing read. Mr. van der Leek certainly did his research on this book! It was a disturbing, at times, book to read, looking back on our 21st Century theories on mental illness and treatments, but I found it very informative and interesting. I will certainly look at his other books.
February 8, 2024
Fresh View on Life and Death of Vincent van Gogh
I was amazed at how much information could still be found and analyzed about someone who died so long ago. The book was very well written and something different to read than the types of books I have been reading lately.
I was amazed at how much information could still be found and analyzed about someone who died so long ago. The book was very well written and something different to read than the types of books I have been reading lately.
September 10, 2019
Highly detailed, pulls no punches, meticulous and dramatic.
The very chatty style of writing was hard to flow with at first and took some getting used to, but it is totally worth sticking with. I loved having links in this book, to help show images and demonstrate visual assertions.
The very chatty style of writing was hard to flow with at first and took some getting used to, but it is totally worth sticking with. I loved having links in this book, to help show images and demonstrate visual assertions.
January 15, 2024
I loved the story of this book and at certain points really did grab me however there is a recurring tendency to focus on other elements - excellent for true crime lovers not so much for the more causal readers
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews