Scan barcode
kazaan's review
1.0
Many people gave this book 5 stars in part b/c they were so impressed with its level of detail. I, too, am impressed with the copious amount of detailed research that went into such a lengthy biography. But when that level of research fails to lead to an understanding of the subject as a whole, what good is it?
Who can say that they did not suffer emotional heartbreaks in their youth? Or pursue jobs at which they were not successful? Who can say that they never had a friendship fade or suffer the heartbreak of unrequited love? Who can say that they did not struggle in their desire to please a parent? The authors condemn poor Vincent as a failure in all endeavors. They see nothing but a madman, failure, and misanthrope, while ignoring his true essence. They ignore what made him one of our greatest artists.
I suggest that anyone interested in Van Gogh read his letters. They are beautifully written and offer amazing access to his thoughts, hopes, and motivations. They show great passion, sensitivity, and a moral center, a desire to do great work and a boundless love. They provide a much needed counterweight to the misanthropic, delusional man presented in this biography.
Who can say that they did not suffer emotional heartbreaks in their youth? Or pursue jobs at which they were not successful? Who can say that they never had a friendship fade or suffer the heartbreak of unrequited love? Who can say that they did not struggle in their desire to please a parent? The authors condemn poor Vincent as a failure in all endeavors. They see nothing but a madman, failure, and misanthrope, while ignoring his true essence. They ignore what made him one of our greatest artists.
I suggest that anyone interested in Van Gogh read his letters. They are beautifully written and offer amazing access to his thoughts, hopes, and motivations. They show great passion, sensitivity, and a moral center, a desire to do great work and a boundless love. They provide a much needed counterweight to the misanthropic, delusional man presented in this biography.
mysticalmegan's review
4.0
Wow. This book was amazingly detailed. Sometimes too much so. I didn’t really feel the need to get such a day-by-day account of Vincent’s life and found myself skimming through a lot of it. Judging by this account, Van Gogh wasn’t really a very likable guy. He was weird, grouchy, and mentally unhinged. I came away thinking maybe the authors did him a disservice… or maybe he was that weird. The authors theorize that his death was not a suicide, which conflicts with most accounts. Overall, I found the book informative and interesting, but also tedious and a bit over-reaching.
catherine_t's review
5.0
This book may well be the definitive biography of Vincent van Gogh. Incredibly well researched, the authors use their sources to delve deeply into the life of one of the world's great artists, with access to primary and secondary sources and experts at the Van Gogh Museum. They explore van Gogh's development as an artist and what led up to him finally taking up the brush, after failing to become an art dealer, a teacher, and a preacher.
I had never been much for van Gogh's work. I adored the Impressionists (still do), and had a great fondness for the pop art of the 1960s, but van Gogh tended to leave me cold. However, several years ago, during a trip to the UK, I visited the National Gallery in London. In amongst the fine Impressionist paintings (I'm not ashamed to admit I nearly wept when confronted with my first actual Monet), I stumbled upon Wheat Field with Cypresses, and fell in love. More recently, I saw the animated film Loving Vincent on Netflix, and watched Simon Schama's series on the great artists, one episode of which was dedicated to van Gogh. Each of these gave me more insight into the artist and the man, so much so that I plunged into this book with great delight, eager to learn more.
The authors write in a clear, surprisingly concise style--"concise" isn't exactly a word you'd expect to use with a book of this length, but it is precisely the right word. They clearly know their subject inside-out. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in art and artists.
I had never been much for van Gogh's work. I adored the Impressionists (still do), and had a great fondness for the pop art of the 1960s, but van Gogh tended to leave me cold. However, several years ago, during a trip to the UK, I visited the National Gallery in London. In amongst the fine Impressionist paintings (I'm not ashamed to admit I nearly wept when confronted with my first actual Monet), I stumbled upon Wheat Field with Cypresses, and fell in love. More recently, I saw the animated film Loving Vincent on Netflix, and watched Simon Schama's series on the great artists, one episode of which was dedicated to van Gogh. Each of these gave me more insight into the artist and the man, so much so that I plunged into this book with great delight, eager to learn more.
The authors write in a clear, surprisingly concise style--"concise" isn't exactly a word you'd expect to use with a book of this length, but it is precisely the right word. They clearly know their subject inside-out. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in art and artists.
bernonie's review against another edition
5.0
niesamowita książka, według mnie naprawdę świetnie napisana, szacunek do autorów
ilość stron może trochę przerażać na początku, ale inaczej się nie dało przy tak szczegółowych opisach
dla mnie była to świetna lektura, przeszyta ogromnym smutkiem, ale ważna
ilość stron może trochę przerażać na początku, ale inaczej się nie dało przy tak szczegółowych opisach
dla mnie była to świetna lektura, przeszyta ogromnym smutkiem, ale ważna
kelleys's review
4.0
Woof! After just over 2 months I finally finished the behemoth. But it was worth it. This extremely detailed account fives an almost day-by-day account of Vincent's life. Having read this book I feel as though I understand him and his art much more beyond "the artist who painted "Starry Night" and cut off his ear." If you have any love for this man's art, I highly suggest you read this book. It is heavy (in both the literal and metaphorical sense) but so very worth it.
adglass24's review
3.0
I finally finished this book after what seems like chipping away at it for a couple of years in-between library books.
This 800+ page biography is so well-researched that you could probably name a day in Vincent's life and the authors could tell you whether he had a bowel movement and which Zola novel he read while he had it...
If you read this book then I definitely suggest supplementing it with other Van Gogh books so you can see all the paintings the authors describe.
I found it comforting because the book dispelled some myths I had about Vincent's life. Mainly that he did sell work and was praised before his death, and that he didn't kill himself in the wheat fields.
This 800+ page biography is so well-researched that you could probably name a day in Vincent's life and the authors could tell you whether he had a bowel movement and which Zola novel he read while he had it...
If you read this book then I definitely suggest supplementing it with other Van Gogh books so you can see all the paintings the authors describe.
I found it comforting because the book dispelled some myths I had about Vincent's life. Mainly that he did sell work and was praised before his death, and that he didn't kill himself in the wheat fields.
abetterjulie's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this was a labor of love - it's a tome. Though, never dry and always deeply moving. I learned a huge amount about not just Vincent Van Gogh, but also art, history, and philosophy. This book led me off on tangents and rabbit holes about color theory, Protestantism, and medicine. Truly an inspiring conversation about one man and his tortured path through life. I was especially happy to have several myths that have built up scraped down to the canvas and the truth exposed. The anticipatory grief made the last 200 pages almost impossible to get through, but if you take it slowly, you'll arrive.
Also? Gauguin was a horrible, horrible person.
Also? Gauguin was a horrible, horrible person.
squidbag's review
5.0
An exhaustive and phenomenal book for anyone who's interested in getting the real stories behind all the stuff you think you know about Vincent Van Gogh. This volume goes a long way toward putting down the fake stories and ridiculousness that has come out of the "Lust for Life" era. The year-by-year accounting of Van Gogh's rises and falls helps to completely explain what was probably Van Gogh's bipolarity exacerbated by his drinking and syphillis. Finally, a supposition of my own - that Van Gogh was a synesthete - was more or less borne out by various recountings in the text and stuff from his letters. Finally, the mysteries of Van Gogh's death are explored, and some of the myth-making blown apart by real evidence. I highly recommend this.
More...