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A review by catherine_t
Van Gogh: The Life by Steven Naifeh, Gregory White Smith
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.