La veuve des Van Gogh

by Camilo Sánchez, Fanchita Gonzalez-Batlle (Translator)

Sur la mort de Vincent Van Gogh tout a été écrit. Sur celle de son frère Théo, terrassé par le chagrin, des litres d’encre ont été aussi déversés. Mais personne n’a évoqué ce qu’il advint de Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, épouse de Théo, qui vécut un double veuvage tant le lien entre les deux frères était fort. À la disparition de son mari, la jeune femme décide d’ouvrir, à quelques kilomètres d’Amsterdam, une auberge. C’est là qu’elle réunit les lettres de Vincent, qu’elle accroche aux murs ses toiles. Nous sommes en 1891 et certains voyageurs s’arrêtent volontiers dans l’agréable demeure. Déconcertés, ils regardent ces tableaux aux couleurs inattendues qui jusque-là n’ont pas trouvé d’acquéreur, ni à Arles ni à Paris. Des tableaux voués par certains au bûcher tant ils paraissent «démoniaques». Cette exposition loin du monde des critiques pontifiants permettra au peintre de connaître enfin une gloire posthume.
Une histoire méconnue et passionnante qui brosse le portrait d’une femme hors norme dont la détermination a changé la face de l’art contemporain.

160 pages, Pocket Book

Published October 5, 2023

Reviews

[Lynn Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An astonishing story of dedication, perception and strength. I didn’t know anything about the role that Theo Van Gogh’s wife Johanna played in the interpretation, promotion, protection and distribution of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings and letters ; this aspect of the book was fascinating to me.
I read a French translation from Spanish so hard for me to speak of the writing quality. Neither of those languages is my first. I am curious about what other readers think of it. It seems to me the story is well enough told but the mix of quotes and narration is not always fluid and felt a lack of depth sometimes; as the writer was in a hurry to jump from on subject to the next.
Nevertheless I enjoyed Johanna’s journal quotes and the quotes from Van Gogh’s letters plus footnotes on historical events. I wonder if she had a real journal or if Sanchez invented that .
I am particularly interested in what motivates artists. Herein I learned that Van Gogh might have been inspired to write of then draw and paint certain subjects. The details of how he wanted to frame and hang his work were interesting too.
I felt that the author’s depiction of Johanna’s love life was less believable than the rest , but thats just my opinion. Perhaps the books shift from quote/fact to imagination was weaker at that point. I was just disappointed to disconnect a bit from a book I had been enjoying.
But this aspect is very close to the end and at that point there are some wonderful quotes and insights into Van Gogh and his paintings. This book left me wanting to know more…