Vincent van Gogh: His Life in Art

by Nienke Bakker (Contributor), Renske Suijver (Contributor), Renske Cohen Tervaert (Contributor)

A magnificently illustrated overview of Van Gogh’s life, legacy, and art, from early drawings through later, iconic paintings

Vincent van His Life in Art surveys the artist’s creative evolution across his short but influential career. The narrative begins with Van Gogh’s drawings, which were the foundation of his early practice, and describes how he transitioned into painting by consulting instructional handbooks and copying images. Written by a team of international experts, the book follows his moves from the landscapes and peasant life of his native Holland to Antwerp, Paris, Provence, and finally the countryside north of Paris. In the brilliant light of southern France, he began painting portraits and landscapes while refining his characteristic style of rhythmic brushstrokes and expressive impasto in vivid colors. In addition to the main essay with its overview of Van Gogh’s shifting techniques and artistic concerns, the publication features a pair of essays highlighting two museums with exceptional collections of the artist’s the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, and the Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo. Beautifully reproduced images showcase approximately 50 outstanding pieces from these and other institutions, from rough drawings to vibrant late-career canvases.

Distributed for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Exhibition The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
(03/10/19–06/27/19)

172 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2019

Reviews

[Lynne Beavers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straightforward tale of Van Gogh's adult life and his artistic development. Includes interesting sections on the Van Gogh Museum, established by Van Gogh's family in Amsterdam, and the Kroller-Muller Museum's van Gogh collection. Helene and Anton Kroller-Muller amassed an extensive art collection, including at least 90 Van Gogh paintings and almost 200 of his drawings. Luckily Helene wanted to erect a "monument to culture" that would provide insight into the development of painting from 1860 to the present, and she made Van Gogh's works the centerpiece.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Official book to accompany the exhibit at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. (It's the only venue for this exhibit.)

The narrative is very informative and addresses some of the myths about Van Gogh's life. The full colored plates (from the exhibit) are amazing---many not seen before in the U.S.

If you're in Houston (before July 28th), go see the exhibit. If not (and you're a Van Gogh fan), buy the book.