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Van Gogh: Up Close
An entirely new perspective on the genius of Van Gogh, revealing for the first time the artist's approach to nature through his innovative use of the close-up view
This sumptuously illustrated book offers a completely new way of looking at the art of Vincent van Gogh, by exploring the artist's approach to nature through his innovative use of the close-up view. Focusing on the last years of the artist's career—from 1886 until his death in July 1890—an international team of leading scholars in the field examines Van Gogh's radical approach to the close-up and sets it in the context of contemporary and historical references, such as his hitherto unrecognized use of photography and his fascination with the Old Masters and with Japanese art and culture. One hundred key paintings dating from his arrival in Paris in 1886 to the end of his career show how Van Gogh experimented with unusual visual angles and the decorative use of color, cropping, and the flattening of his compositions. In some paintings he zoomed in on a tuft of grass or a single budding iris, while depicting shifting views of a field or garden in others. Van Gogh: Up Close not only reveals how these paintings became the most radical and innovative in the artist's body of work but also demonstrates that, far from being a spontaneous or undisciplined artist, Van Gogh was well aware of the history of art and was highly conscious of his efforts to break new ground with his work.
Published in association with the National Gallery of Canada
Exhibition Schedule: Philadelphia Museum of Art (02/01/12-05/06/12) National Gallery of Canada (05/25/12-09/03/12)
This sumptuously illustrated book offers a completely new way of looking at the art of Vincent van Gogh, by exploring the artist's approach to nature through his innovative use of the close-up view. Focusing on the last years of the artist's career—from 1886 until his death in July 1890—an international team of leading scholars in the field examines Van Gogh's radical approach to the close-up and sets it in the context of contemporary and historical references, such as his hitherto unrecognized use of photography and his fascination with the Old Masters and with Japanese art and culture. One hundred key paintings dating from his arrival in Paris in 1886 to the end of his career show how Van Gogh experimented with unusual visual angles and the decorative use of color, cropping, and the flattening of his compositions. In some paintings he zoomed in on a tuft of grass or a single budding iris, while depicting shifting views of a field or garden in others. Van Gogh: Up Close not only reveals how these paintings became the most radical and innovative in the artist's body of work but also demonstrates that, far from being a spontaneous or undisciplined artist, Van Gogh was well aware of the history of art and was highly conscious of his efforts to break new ground with his work.
Published in association with the National Gallery of Canada
Exhibition Schedule: Philadelphia Museum of Art (02/01/12-05/06/12) National Gallery of Canada (05/25/12-09/03/12)
- GenresArt
306 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 28, 2018
Excellent reproductions. A couple of the essays aren't bad.
September 23, 2024
I do like his use of colour and texture in his paintings. Didn't have his most iconic pieces but it's good to know more of his work.
February 27, 2013
If you want to see some of the paintings; visit my blog entry: http://bit.ly/13nQ6LY
This is a very beautiful book that shows a particular aspect of this painter: the close up. Although for me it is difficult to imagine; the zoom did not exist in 1886 when he invented it. It is amazing that something I take for granted and do not give a second of thought was indeed non-existent in the world. Then; it took this genius to create it. This book covers the period between 1886 and 1890 when he was in Paris and had so many new ideas for painting. He was a truly modern artist; and you can see the power of his talent in one of my favorite paintings in this book View of Arles; with irises in the foreground (P. 10). Admirable since no-cone has made that before: contrast colors and so vividly painting out an image that was in his mind. You can see the influence of the high horizon line; which was the tendency in Paris in 1880's (P-20).
In another aspect of his painting; I sometimes find his expression like a very loud scream; such as in the Giant Peacock moth painting with its big eyes and vivid colors. In page 26 we find another one of those: Daubigny's Garden in Auvers. I think.it is too �??loud�?�; it �??screams�?� at you. In page 47; there is a painting of a boy cutting grass with a sickle. It is so REAL. The same careful; almost painful attention to detail is found in the myriad of sunflowers he painted. There are just a few on pages 48 and 49. I can almost feel the pain he went through while painting those. In page 51 we see a pair of boots; and other works on shoes. Those are beautiful and realistic. In P. 63 there is a vague portrait of Marguerite Gachet in her garden. The magic is that I don�??t need anything else in the painting to fill all the gaps and I desperately wanting to be that woman having so much fun in her garden.
On P.74 we stumble upon The raising of Lazarus after Rembrandt. It is amazing how much life Van Gogh was able to inject in this masterpiece by Rembrandt. On P. 113 there is another one that screams and yells and is so much full of life: IRIS. The same thing happens in P. 113 whose name is conveniently set to �??IRISIES�?� and was painted in 1889.
In other words: this book is full of light; color; screams and noise.
This is a very beautiful book that shows a particular aspect of this painter: the close up. Although for me it is difficult to imagine; the zoom did not exist in 1886 when he invented it. It is amazing that something I take for granted and do not give a second of thought was indeed non-existent in the world. Then; it took this genius to create it. This book covers the period between 1886 and 1890 when he was in Paris and had so many new ideas for painting. He was a truly modern artist; and you can see the power of his talent in one of my favorite paintings in this book View of Arles; with irises in the foreground (P. 10). Admirable since no-cone has made that before: contrast colors and so vividly painting out an image that was in his mind. You can see the influence of the high horizon line; which was the tendency in Paris in 1880's (P-20).
In another aspect of his painting; I sometimes find his expression like a very loud scream; such as in the Giant Peacock moth painting with its big eyes and vivid colors. In page 26 we find another one of those: Daubigny's Garden in Auvers. I think.it is too �??loud�?�; it �??screams�?� at you. In page 47; there is a painting of a boy cutting grass with a sickle. It is so REAL. The same careful; almost painful attention to detail is found in the myriad of sunflowers he painted. There are just a few on pages 48 and 49. I can almost feel the pain he went through while painting those. In page 51 we see a pair of boots; and other works on shoes. Those are beautiful and realistic. In P. 63 there is a vague portrait of Marguerite Gachet in her garden. The magic is that I don�??t need anything else in the painting to fill all the gaps and I desperately wanting to be that woman having so much fun in her garden.
On P.74 we stumble upon The raising of Lazarus after Rembrandt. It is amazing how much life Van Gogh was able to inject in this masterpiece by Rembrandt. On P. 113 there is another one that screams and yells and is so much full of life: IRIS. The same thing happens in P. 113 whose name is conveniently set to �??IRISIES�?� and was painted in 1889.
In other words: this book is full of light; color; screams and noise.
December 17, 2012
Loved, loved this exhibit in Philly in 2012 - however the book was a bit of a letdown. I guess maybe I prefer the catalogues that go through each piece of an exhibit so I can revisit each one and meditate upon it more and read a bit about that particular piece. This book was a bunch of essays about varied topics. Some not even related to the topic of the exhibit. Whatever.
October 14, 2015
Great background on his paintings. I wish I could have seen the exhibit!
May 15, 2012
After seeing this exhibit in Philadelphia, I have a new and greater appreciation for Van Gogh. This book was written for the exhibit and gives greater details and depth to the man and his work.
August 23, 2016
I didn't end up reading all the essays but I enjoyed what I did read very much. Its given me inspiration for my own academic writing endeavours.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews