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Vincent: A Graphic Biography
'I know for sure that I have an instinct for colour, and painting is in the very marrow of my bones'
The life of Van Gogh has gone down in legend as the archetypal artist’s existence. He was irascible and short-tempered, hugely passionate and emotional, absurdly talented and, for most of his lifetime, notoriously misunderstood and under-appreciated. And yet today, we see him as one of the most inventive, influential and admired painters of the entire Western canon, if not a genius.
Taking us through his short but explosive life, this graphic novel paints a vivid picture of Van Gogh’s unusual youth, his famous early failures, his discovery of a new style of painting, his tragic suicide, and the meteoric artistic legacy that followed.
For those looking for an introduction to this incredible artist, or searching for a fresh take on his story – this is Vincent Van Gogh’s life as you’ve never seen it before.
The life of Van Gogh has gone down in legend as the archetypal artist’s existence. He was irascible and short-tempered, hugely passionate and emotional, absurdly talented and, for most of his lifetime, notoriously misunderstood and under-appreciated. And yet today, we see him as one of the most inventive, influential and admired painters of the entire Western canon, if not a genius.
Taking us through his short but explosive life, this graphic novel paints a vivid picture of Van Gogh’s unusual youth, his famous early failures, his discovery of a new style of painting, his tragic suicide, and the meteoric artistic legacy that followed.
For those looking for an introduction to this incredible artist, or searching for a fresh take on his story – this is Vincent Van Gogh’s life as you’ve never seen it before.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2024
About the author
Simon Elliott
37 books14 followersSi Elliott is a strategic marketing leader, agency co-owner and customer experience specialist with over 20 years of experience helping brands build deeper, more meaningful connections.
As co-owner of creative agency Diversity and founder of customer experience consultancy Fabricx, he combines behavioural science with practical strategy to design experiences that genuinely resonate. His work sits at the intersection of digital progress and human connection, and he is driven by a simple belief: when we truly understand how people think and focus on serving them better, we create stronger relationships, better businesses and greater outcomes for everyone.
An award-winning guest lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and the Communication University of China, Si also serves on academic advisory boards, working closely with the next generation of marketers and psychologists.
His first book, Customer Experience Thinking, brings together two decades of marketing leadership with behavioural science to reveal what really drives trust, loyalty and decision-making. Through 8 practical customer experience principles and 34 key behavioural biases, it offers a clear framework for designing brand experiences that reduce friction, strengthen relationships and create genuine emotional connection.
He also hosts The Customer Experience Lab podcast, where he explores the behavioural thinking behind the brands, campaigns and moments that shape how we feel as customers.
Find him online:
Website: sielliott.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/si-elliott
Instagram: instagram.com/si.elliott
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
May 30, 2024
I am not a biographies expert, but Vincent from his sister-in-law in color sounded more promising, it was still interesting but I couldn't find so much on these pages.
Vincent van Gogh's entire life from birth to death, his love affair and career, his mental health and family in pictures, although I think the illustrations could be less simple, for sure its contents aren't for young readers, so I expect the arts weren't too.
Thank you Quarto Publishing Group via Netgalley for ARC, I have given my honest review. The publication date is 6 August 2024.
Vincent van Gogh's entire life from birth to death, his love affair and career, his mental health and family in pictures, although I think the illustrations could be less simple, for sure its contents aren't for young readers, so I expect the arts weren't too.
Thank you Quarto Publishing Group via Netgalley for ARC, I have given my honest review. The publication date is 6 August 2024.
June 17, 2024
3.7⭐️/5
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
This is a short and poignant biography of the highly talented artist Vincent Van Gogh by his sister-in-law--the woman who popularised his works. His life was filled with pain and deep despondence due to his failed love life, struggles with the Church, financial difficulties, and mental health issues--all narrated well along with illustrations. His story evokes deep sympathy and pity on one side and admiration for the fantastic art on the other side. The book could have included more paintings of Vincent; it would then have been a complete book. Nevertheless, this ones a good book to read his story.
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
This is a short and poignant biography of the highly talented artist Vincent Van Gogh by his sister-in-law--the woman who popularised his works. His life was filled with pain and deep despondence due to his failed love life, struggles with the Church, financial difficulties, and mental health issues--all narrated well along with illustrations. His story evokes deep sympathy and pity on one side and admiration for the fantastic art on the other side. The book could have included more paintings of Vincent; it would then have been a complete book. Nevertheless, this ones a good book to read his story.
May 27, 2024
I’m not an artist, although my daughter-in-law is, and I’ve had several friends throughout my life who are also artists, but ever since I was very young I was obsessed with art. My mother and her mother were both artists, although not anything close to artists like Vincent van Gogh.
My freshman year in school, those of us who chose to take art classes were blessed with a wonderful art teacher who encouraged us to look beyond the ‘real’ and paint beyond the proverbial lines with our heart as well as our eyes.
This shares the life of Vincent van Gogh, his struggles with sadness and depression, and how that affected him as an artist. And his internal struggles with being misunderstood as an artist, as well as just a man wanting to be seen and accepted, which, unbelievable from our perspective, he was not. This lack of acceptance added to his depression which worsened over time. He struggled to find a balance in his life, and was plagued by his own demons, but through the blessing of his family, he was also given love. And that love carried on when his sister-in-law decided the world needed to see, to know, and to feel the emotions, the beauty that is there in his art.
Vincent: A Graphic Biography is written and illustrated by Simon Elliott, shares the lives of both Vincent van Gogh, his brother, Theo, as well as the woman who made sure that they would be remembered.
Pub Date: 06 Aug 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion / Frances Lincoln
May 27, 2024
A really enjoyable illustrated depiction of Van Gogh's life. I enjoyed the content and illustrations throughout.
This is in no way an in-depth analytic look into Van Gogh's work or life but provides a nice balance of his forming influences as a young man to his life as an underappreciated, struggling artist. It is a nice mid-point that dives into a bit more detail than Wikipedia and internet resources etc.
The best part about this is it would be suitable for all ages really, a nice, quick, illustrated read to learn more about one of the greats!
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!
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I am incapable of seeing a van gogh book and not reading it
This is in no way an in-depth analytic look into Van Gogh's work or life but provides a nice balance of his forming influences as a young man to his life as an underappreciated, struggling artist. It is a nice mid-point that dives into a bit more detail than Wikipedia and internet resources etc.
The best part about this is it would be suitable for all ages really, a nice, quick, illustrated read to learn more about one of the greats!
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!
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I am incapable of seeing a van gogh book and not reading it
July 20, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and Quatro Publishing for letting me share my honest opinions of this eBook.
It was good to read this, almost 6 years ago I read A Memoir Of Vincent van Gogh by Johanna van Gogh-Bonger , whereafter I would looked at Vincent’s work differently.
I like how this graphic biography puts Jo van Gogh-Bonger and Theo van Gogh at center stage of Vincent van Gogh.
Jo van Gogh-Bonger was married to Vincent’s brother, Theo van Gogh, who passed away 6 months after Vincent from natural causes. When in 2018 I read Jo’s memoir of Vincent I realized Vincent’s art would have been long forgotten if it had not been for Jo and Theo.
The format of this is like a graphic novel that tells the story of Vincent’s life from Jo’s perspective, it’s a quick or very quick read, except I took weeks, reading this got me looking through my art books, Jo’s memoir and Vincent’s letters.
Simon Elliot’s book goes beyond Jo’s memoir, and continues after Vincent and Theo’s death. Elliot doesn’t just tell the story of Vincent’s life and art but also notes Jo’s efforts of promoting Vincent’s art.
Once again, I am left with complete admiration for Jo: her knowledge of art was limited, and I’m thinking, like the art and art critics mentioned in this book, the galleries she approached were also run by men. This is the 1890s, for her to succeed shows her truly amazing strength in character.
I’m glad I read this, it’s nice Jo van Gogh-Bonger (along with Theo) is remembered here.
It was good to read this, almost 6 years ago I read A Memoir Of Vincent van Gogh by Johanna van Gogh-Bonger , whereafter I would looked at Vincent’s work differently.
I like how this graphic biography puts Jo van Gogh-Bonger and Theo van Gogh at center stage of Vincent van Gogh.
Jo van Gogh-Bonger was married to Vincent’s brother, Theo van Gogh, who passed away 6 months after Vincent from natural causes. When in 2018 I read Jo’s memoir of Vincent I realized Vincent’s art would have been long forgotten if it had not been for Jo and Theo.
The format of this is like a graphic novel that tells the story of Vincent’s life from Jo’s perspective, it’s a quick or very quick read, except I took weeks, reading this got me looking through my art books, Jo’s memoir and Vincent’s letters.
Simon Elliot’s book goes beyond Jo’s memoir, and continues after Vincent and Theo’s death. Elliot doesn’t just tell the story of Vincent’s life and art but also notes Jo’s efforts of promoting Vincent’s art.
Once again, I am left with complete admiration for Jo: her knowledge of art was limited, and I’m thinking, like the art and art critics mentioned in this book, the galleries she approached were also run by men. This is the 1890s, for her to succeed shows her truly amazing strength in character.
I’m glad I read this, it’s nice Jo van Gogh-Bonger (along with Theo) is remembered here.
June 7, 2024
Vincent Van Gogh's life is depicted from his sister-in-law's perspective in this book. Unfortunately, the artwork is underwhelming, with the baby on page 5 resembling a goblin and everything else. The text is minuscule, making it difficult to read. Overall, my experience with the book was not enjoyable.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for providing an ARC of this graphic novel for reviewers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for providing an ARC of this graphic novel for reviewers.
June 6, 2024
Whew, do I have some thoughts. To start, this was formatted more like a picture book than a graphic novel. The art style itself was not for me; it would have been cool if it had mimicked Vincent's own style, but it was instead lots of flat colors with no shading or lighting effects, rather odd perspectives, and oddly drawn people. One could argue that this is "experimental" and parallels one of the themes of the biography but it just looked poorly done. There was also some info conveyed in art but not in text that I severely felt needed clarification. Like pages 30-31 with Vincent and Eugenie. (Art looks pretty problematic and I am not a fan of biographies that refuse to acknowledge a person's wrongs in life, especially if it is going to allude to them. Just spell it out!)
Which leads to the whole framing of this story. It's told through Jo's point of view, who was Vincent's sister in law. I don't really understand why this decision was made, as it caused the whole narrative to be quite biased in Vincent's favor. Again, I am of the sentiment that history should be conveyed as objectively as possible, especially with such famous people as Vincent Van Gogh. We don't need to glorify his life or garner sympathy for his memory--that memory is doing just fine. I would have appreciated a more honest and objective depiction of his life and works rather than the weird fiction of claiming Jo's voice. (This narrative choice might have made sense if this were a graphic novel adaption of her own words regarding Van Gogh, but the while the credits mention online archives of her diaries, nothing is directly cited throughout the entire novel so that it's impossible to know what is actually her voice shining through, and what is fiction from the author.)
As much as I wanted to feel sorry for him, I kind of hated him by the middle of the novel and then was just ready for the story to be over by the end. His entitlement and lack of consideration for other people was boggling and infuriating, and I imagine led to the worsening of his mental illness. Again, if this had been told more objectively, this would have been a unique opporunity to showcase the history of how mental health has been treated and the flaws in that treatment, and how doctors just throw around treatments when they don't understand the actual issues. There's just ... sooo much they could have done there. But NO.
Anyway. Thus ends my mild rant.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
Which leads to the whole framing of this story. It's told through Jo's point of view, who was Vincent's sister in law. I don't really understand why this decision was made, as it caused the whole narrative to be quite biased in Vincent's favor. Again, I am of the sentiment that history should be conveyed as objectively as possible, especially with such famous people as Vincent Van Gogh. We don't need to glorify his life or garner sympathy for his memory--that memory is doing just fine. I would have appreciated a more honest and objective depiction of his life and works rather than the weird fiction of claiming Jo's voice. (This narrative choice might have made sense if this were a graphic novel adaption of her own words regarding Van Gogh, but the while the credits mention online archives of her diaries, nothing is directly cited throughout the entire novel so that it's impossible to know what is actually her voice shining through, and what is fiction from the author.)
As much as I wanted to feel sorry for him, I kind of hated him by the middle of the novel and then was just ready for the story to be over by the end. His entitlement and lack of consideration for other people was boggling and infuriating, and I imagine led to the worsening of his mental illness. Again, if this had been told more objectively, this would have been a unique opporunity to showcase the history of how mental health has been treated and the flaws in that treatment, and how doctors just throw around treatments when they don't understand the actual issues. There's just ... sooo much they could have done there. But NO.
Anyway. Thus ends my mild rant.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
July 3, 2024
I’m not sure who this book is for. The drawing and writing level would lead me to believe this is a middle grade graphic bio, but the content within both greatly dissuades me from that notion. The art didn’t captivate me, which I think is a greater offense if you decide to make a graphic biography for an artist. The writing itself felt very superficial.
Writing from the point of view of Vincent’s sister-in-law is an interesting choice but created one fatal flaw: romanticizing his toxic behavior. I love Vincent Van Gogh’s work and have since I was a child, but he was someone who struggled with mental health, did not get the support he needed, and there were consequences for that. You can’t dismiss him stalking a woman he said he was in love with as “passion.”
I would absolutely love to see a more detailed graphic biography of Vincent Van Gogh with more appropriate artwork to the subject matter and a realistic take on his actions.
Writing from the point of view of Vincent’s sister-in-law is an interesting choice but created one fatal flaw: romanticizing his toxic behavior. I love Vincent Van Gogh’s work and have since I was a child, but he was someone who struggled with mental health, did not get the support he needed, and there were consequences for that. You can’t dismiss him stalking a woman he said he was in love with as “passion.”
I would absolutely love to see a more detailed graphic biography of Vincent Van Gogh with more appropriate artwork to the subject matter and a realistic take on his actions.
May 27, 2024
Vincent: A graphic Biography is a fascinating story of not so much Vincent Van Gogh, but also the story of Jo van Gogh-Bonger. If you have never heard of Jo, well, neither had I. She was the sister-in-law of Vincent, and when he died, she and her husband, his brother Thodore, inherited all his works. She, like her husband, saw the beauty of which he painted, but they weren’t sure what to do to get the world to see what they saw. When Thodore died a year after Vincent, Jo was left with a young baby,and a house full of Vincent’s paintings.
So, while this is the story of Vincent, we also see what Jo did after we are given the story of his life. Because without Jo, none of us would ever have heard of Vincent. She made it her life’s work to get his paintings out to critics, to get them to see what she saw. It took her entire life to do so, but once people saw what she saw, the world took the paintings by storm.
And after she died, her son, also called Vincent, continued his mother’s work, and got the Dutch government to build a Van Gogh Museam.
Great book. It was fascinating to see what Jo did to get Vincent’s work out there, and how hard it was on her. It was also sad to see what a hard life Vincent lived, and how frustratedhe was with his works.
A very complete story, easy to read, and very accessible, and one that gives the complete story of his life, and his works.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 6th of August 2024.
So, while this is the story of Vincent, we also see what Jo did after we are given the story of his life. Because without Jo, none of us would ever have heard of Vincent. She made it her life’s work to get his paintings out to critics, to get them to see what she saw. It took her entire life to do so, but once people saw what she saw, the world took the paintings by storm.
And after she died, her son, also called Vincent, continued his mother’s work, and got the Dutch government to build a Van Gogh Museam.
Great book. It was fascinating to see what Jo did to get Vincent’s work out there, and how hard it was on her. It was also sad to see what a hard life Vincent lived, and how frustratedhe was with his works.
A very complete story, easy to read, and very accessible, and one that gives the complete story of his life, and his works.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 6th of August 2024.
June 5, 2024
"Vincent: A Graphic Biography" by Simon Elliott tells the story of the life of Vincent Van Gogh from his childhood in the Netherlands all the way up to his tragic end. Rather uniquely this story is told through the eyes of his sister-in-law Johanna, who was married to his beloved brother Theo. The epilogue tells in more detail how Johanna played the key role in building Vincent's legacy after he and Theo both died within a few months of each other, leaving her an impoverished, widowed single mother with not much besides a huge collection of Vincent's art that she knew deserved more recognition and could eventually be worth a fortune. Learning more about her dedication to ensuring his art would live on was my favourite part of the book! I also enjoyed the way that the art style used throughout the book often mimicked Vincent's distinctive brushstrokes.
My only drawback with the reading experience is that I do wish that this book would have taken more advantage of exploring the graphic novel format to have comic-strip storytelling with dialogue bubbles etc. This is more of a heavily illustrated biography in that each page has a few essay-esque paragraphs of Vincent's story and is accompanied by corresponding illustrations.
Despite the colourful artwork potentially appealing to children, I would not recommend this to an audience any younger than high school age because of the frank descriptions and illustrations of Vincent's mental health struggles and suicide attempts as well as one page that includes nudity in a sexual context.
If you are looking for an easy-to-read introduction to the life of one of the most famous painters in the world, I think this book is a fantastic starting point! I particularly enjoyed learning more about the first half of his life... I feel like I know quite a bit about his later, more artistically prolific, years after visiting numerous exhibits of his work including the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. However, I did not know many details about his childhood and time spent as a teacher and missionary, so I found that quite fascinating.
*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Frances Lincoln through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
My only drawback with the reading experience is that I do wish that this book would have taken more advantage of exploring the graphic novel format to have comic-strip storytelling with dialogue bubbles etc. This is more of a heavily illustrated biography in that each page has a few essay-esque paragraphs of Vincent's story and is accompanied by corresponding illustrations.
Despite the colourful artwork potentially appealing to children, I would not recommend this to an audience any younger than high school age because of the frank descriptions and illustrations of Vincent's mental health struggles and suicide attempts as well as one page that includes nudity in a sexual context.
If you are looking for an easy-to-read introduction to the life of one of the most famous painters in the world, I think this book is a fantastic starting point! I particularly enjoyed learning more about the first half of his life... I feel like I know quite a bit about his later, more artistically prolific, years after visiting numerous exhibits of his work including the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. However, I did not know many details about his childhood and time spent as a teacher and missionary, so I found that quite fascinating.
*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Frances Lincoln through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
June 9, 2024
Received this book as an ARC via NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion.
This is a graphic novel that is also a biography of the artist Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh is a complicated historical figure but I feel that this graphic novel presents his life in a new and interesting way to younger readers and adults. I have to say that the color choices and the simple, yet effective drawings by the author, Simon Elliot, helped to draw the reader's eye and yet did not detract from the text.
The text goes through his early life through his unrequited love and later on his struggles with mental illnesses such as depression and the work he did. It is told from the perspective of his sister-in-law and her narration really allows us to see Van Gogh in ways that he perhaps had not seen himself in life. She was able to turn him into a world renowned artist after a lifetime of rejection by his peers.
I think this book would be best read by children in high school, due to certain images of nude women and the depiction of his suicide attempt. This requires a more mature audience than middle school which is often the audience for graphic novels..
This is a graphic novel that is also a biography of the artist Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh is a complicated historical figure but I feel that this graphic novel presents his life in a new and interesting way to younger readers and adults. I have to say that the color choices and the simple, yet effective drawings by the author, Simon Elliot, helped to draw the reader's eye and yet did not detract from the text.
The text goes through his early life through his unrequited love and later on his struggles with mental illnesses such as depression and the work he did. It is told from the perspective of his sister-in-law and her narration really allows us to see Van Gogh in ways that he perhaps had not seen himself in life. She was able to turn him into a world renowned artist after a lifetime of rejection by his peers.
I think this book would be best read by children in high school, due to certain images of nude women and the depiction of his suicide attempt. This requires a more mature audience than middle school which is often the audience for graphic novels..
May 27, 2024
Gorgeous illustrations bring famed artist Vincent Van Gogh to stunning life! I enjoyed the graphic format and learned a great deal about this often misunderstood artistic genius. Highly recommended!
July 31, 2024
Thanks to the book in the 'Small People, BIG DREAMS' series, I rekindled my interest in one of my favorite painters, Vincent van Gogh. Despite having visited his museum and read about him in various art books, I felt the need for more detail, depth, and insight into his life and struggles.
Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law, played a crucial role in cementing his name and fame. This graphic novel narrates Vincent's story through Jo's eyes, covering the van Gogh family's journey up until the artist's death and Jo's subsequent efforts to gain critical approval and global recognition for Vincent's paintings. The story is complex and poignant, with illustrations and text that vividly convey the challenges and pain experienced by van Gogh. The novel delves into his problematic relationships, religious fervor, failures, and constant relocations, offering a multifaceted view of his life and work.
Although Jo didn't write the book herself, the narrative feels authentic and believable. Only towards the end do some parts feel slightly exaggerated or implausible, but overall, the "family member's perspective" provides an intimate and close account. The illustrations, inspired by Vincent's paintings, add a layer of authenticity and help the reader visualize the settings and subjects that captivated the artist. This detail enhances the reader's understanding and appreciation of van Gogh's work. After finishing the book, I felt a strong urge to revisit the van Gogh Museum to admire the artworks I had learned more about.
The graphic novel also piqued my interest in reading a more detailed biography and the letters that Jo translated and shared with the world. Jo van Gogh-Bonger was an incredibly brave and tenacious woman who changed the course of art history. If you prefer a concise and visually engaging account over lengthy biographies, this book is perfect. It's easy to read, relatively short, and filled with illustrations. I definitely plan to add a physical copy to my collection. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much, NetGallery and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, for this wonderful reading experience and for the ARC copy!
Review in Estonian (Aug 29, 2024): https://brixieblog.wordpress.com/2024...
Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law, played a crucial role in cementing his name and fame. This graphic novel narrates Vincent's story through Jo's eyes, covering the van Gogh family's journey up until the artist's death and Jo's subsequent efforts to gain critical approval and global recognition for Vincent's paintings. The story is complex and poignant, with illustrations and text that vividly convey the challenges and pain experienced by van Gogh. The novel delves into his problematic relationships, religious fervor, failures, and constant relocations, offering a multifaceted view of his life and work.
Although Jo didn't write the book herself, the narrative feels authentic and believable. Only towards the end do some parts feel slightly exaggerated or implausible, but overall, the "family member's perspective" provides an intimate and close account. The illustrations, inspired by Vincent's paintings, add a layer of authenticity and help the reader visualize the settings and subjects that captivated the artist. This detail enhances the reader's understanding and appreciation of van Gogh's work. After finishing the book, I felt a strong urge to revisit the van Gogh Museum to admire the artworks I had learned more about.
The graphic novel also piqued my interest in reading a more detailed biography and the letters that Jo translated and shared with the world. Jo van Gogh-Bonger was an incredibly brave and tenacious woman who changed the course of art history. If you prefer a concise and visually engaging account over lengthy biographies, this book is perfect. It's easy to read, relatively short, and filled with illustrations. I definitely plan to add a physical copy to my collection. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much, NetGallery and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, for this wonderful reading experience and for the ARC copy!
Review in Estonian (Aug 29, 2024): https://brixieblog.wordpress.com/2024...
July 15, 2024
I've always been enthralled by Vincent van Gogh's artwork and story. As such, I think I've read over a dozen biographies about the artist (no, really; I'm pretty sure my family preorders every new one that comes out, knowing it'll make a good gift for me). So, obviously, I had to nab Vincent: A Graphic Biography while I had the chance!
In truth, I'm a bit confused by some of the choices behind Vincent: A Graphic Biography. The perspective is an odd choice, a series of letters written by Jo van Gogh-Bonger (Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law).
Another odd choice is the art style. While some of the color palettes match van Gogh's style, the artwork itself does not. Now, I know that is a HUGE ask, so I'm not going to dock a ton of points for this, but it was a little disappointing/jarring.
Overall, I'd say that Vincent: A Graphic Biography is a decent biography. It's a solid starting point if you're looking to learn more about Vincent van Gogh.
Highlights:
Biography
Vincent van Gogh Biography
Art History in Comic Form
Thanks to Frances Lincoln and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
In truth, I'm a bit confused by some of the choices behind Vincent: A Graphic Biography. The perspective is an odd choice, a series of letters written by Jo van Gogh-Bonger (Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law).
Another odd choice is the art style. While some of the color palettes match van Gogh's style, the artwork itself does not. Now, I know that is a HUGE ask, so I'm not going to dock a ton of points for this, but it was a little disappointing/jarring.
Overall, I'd say that Vincent: A Graphic Biography is a decent biography. It's a solid starting point if you're looking to learn more about Vincent van Gogh.
Highlights:
Biography
Vincent van Gogh Biography
Art History in Comic Form
Thanks to Frances Lincoln and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
May 26, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Told from the perspective of Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, the person behind the success of Vincent Van Gogh, this tells the story of the artist, the person and everything in between.
I grew up in a time when the world is flooded with Van Gogh’s art. From t-shirt to bedroom curtain, you can find The Stary Night everywhere. Maybe that is another reason I actually knew so little of the true him. Because when any artist is this popular and this fused in our day to day life, we often forget to fact check, miss out on simple details. So from the moment I laid my eyes on this book, I knew I had to read it.
And this book served it purpose so beautifully. It details his life, journey with art, mental health with careful details. Because it was today that I learned this enigma of an artist only painted for the last decade of his life, he didn’t actually cut his ears for his lovers, I knew he suffered with mental illness but I didn’t know the gravity of it. But more than that this books shades light on his family dynamic, his relationship with his brother Theo and as a result Johanna’s work and influence on the success of the Vincent Van Gogh.
The strength of the book reveals itself by the end. I knew he only sold one ‘Name Painting’ in his lifetime but I had no clue how to came to receive the massive amount of success that he got. And when I found out I wanted to know about it more, I wanted to know about the person even more. Even more than Vincent and his life, that person left a lasting impression.
I found the illustrations in the book very true to the story it was trying to portray.
If you are interested about Vincent Van Gogh and don’t know where to start, this is a very nice place to start and get to know him.
Told from the perspective of Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, the person behind the success of Vincent Van Gogh, this tells the story of the artist, the person and everything in between.
I grew up in a time when the world is flooded with Van Gogh’s art. From t-shirt to bedroom curtain, you can find The Stary Night everywhere. Maybe that is another reason I actually knew so little of the true him. Because when any artist is this popular and this fused in our day to day life, we often forget to fact check, miss out on simple details. So from the moment I laid my eyes on this book, I knew I had to read it.
And this book served it purpose so beautifully. It details his life, journey with art, mental health with careful details. Because it was today that I learned this enigma of an artist only painted for the last decade of his life, he didn’t actually cut his ears for his lovers, I knew he suffered with mental illness but I didn’t know the gravity of it. But more than that this books shades light on his family dynamic, his relationship with his brother Theo and as a result Johanna’s work and influence on the success of the Vincent Van Gogh.
The strength of the book reveals itself by the end. I knew he only sold one ‘Name Painting’ in his lifetime but I had no clue how to came to receive the massive amount of success that he got. And when I found out I wanted to know about it more, I wanted to know about the person even more. Even more than Vincent and his life, that person left a lasting impression.
I found the illustrations in the book very true to the story it was trying to portray.
If you are interested about Vincent Van Gogh and don’t know where to start, this is a very nice place to start and get to know him.
August 9, 2024
** This was a NetGalley book [original due date 8.6.2024] with a 'download by' date of 6.27.2024. I downloaded it a couple of days before to read ad when I opened it, the whole book was empty, with no words and only 2 pages of illustrations [I deleted it and downloaded it again to no avail as there was still no words and this time no illustrations either]. Thankfully, I was able to get it at the library [FLP OverDrive] when it was published. The review is below. **
This is a brilliant and comprehensive biography [filled with bright, colorful illustrations as well as re-creations of Vincent's works] of the genius that was Vincent van Gogh, and of the brother [Theo] that loved him to distraction [regardless of his own health and status], and the sister-in-law [Jo] who also loved him, enough to complete the work that Theo set out to do [and charged Jo to finish when he himself died not long after Vincent's death], which was to show the world the brilliance and beauty of Vincent's work. The story is sad, not for the faint of heart, and frustrating, but also beautiful because of the love they all shared [along with Jo and Theo's son Vincent, named after his beloved Uncle, who was instrumental in getting the Van Gogh Museum opened] and the love they had of Vincent's work.
Very well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Elliot, and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion/Frances Lincoln for providing this [unreadable] ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a brilliant and comprehensive biography [filled with bright, colorful illustrations as well as re-creations of Vincent's works] of the genius that was Vincent van Gogh, and of the brother [Theo] that loved him to distraction [regardless of his own health and status], and the sister-in-law [Jo] who also loved him, enough to complete the work that Theo set out to do [and charged Jo to finish when he himself died not long after Vincent's death], which was to show the world the brilliance and beauty of Vincent's work. The story is sad, not for the faint of heart, and frustrating, but also beautiful because of the love they all shared [along with Jo and Theo's son Vincent, named after his beloved Uncle, who was instrumental in getting the Van Gogh Museum opened] and the love they had of Vincent's work.
Very well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Elliot, and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion/Frances Lincoln for providing this [unreadable] ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, author and the publisher for an eARC.
A quick life summary and journey to how we know of the painter Vincent Van Gogh. It is not detailed but nicely done. This is something you can read if you want to refresh your memory on life of the famous painter. I personally really enjoyed this one.
“Vincent painted despite his illness, not because of it” this line really stood out to me. I feel like a lot of people relate his struggle with mental illness with his art and romanticise it. I think it’s important to remember that even though his struggle was genuinely painful it still didn’t define him or his love for painting.
Moreover, I’m glad more people are talking about the woman behind his success. I’m surprised it took them long enough.
Plus it’s no shocker that a woman is behind all that because there is no way a man from 1800’s would’ve read his letters and conveyed his feelings through them and related it with his art. Only a woman is capable of such depth.
Lastly. I find it so wholesome that all of this happened because of love.
A quick life summary and journey to how we know of the painter Vincent Van Gogh. It is not detailed but nicely done. This is something you can read if you want to refresh your memory on life of the famous painter. I personally really enjoyed this one.
“Vincent painted despite his illness, not because of it” this line really stood out to me. I feel like a lot of people relate his struggle with mental illness with his art and romanticise it. I think it’s important to remember that even though his struggle was genuinely painful it still didn’t define him or his love for painting.
Moreover, I’m glad more people are talking about the woman behind his success. I’m surprised it took them long enough.
Plus it’s no shocker that a woman is behind all that because there is no way a man from 1800’s would’ve read his letters and conveyed his feelings through them and related it with his art. Only a woman is capable of such depth.
Lastly. I find it so wholesome that all of this happened because of love.
September 24, 2024
Vincent isn't a very good person, he's unliked, and has severe mental problems, the latter part we all know. Today we would understand that most of the problems that people hated about him was probably connected to his mental health. Sadly many with these problems will find pieces of themselves in this Vincent and it makes me weary of more Van Gogh bio's.
These negative traits are pointed out to you by a woman named Jo van Gogh-Bonger, the wife of Theo Van Gogh. In this biography Jo is telling you the story of Vincent's life including some of Theo's and her own. This amazing woman helped create and kept alive the Van Gogh legacy and she gets a graphic novel where she's telling you Vincent's story. She's a bland character and if she's not shown in an illustration you would never know she's the storyteller.
I wish I could recommend it based on the art but I didn't even find the art that good though ome were decent. I just wasn't a fan of the style or coloring because it seemed more like a cartoon at times which is probably expected in a graphic novel.
Maybe in the future another author will create a graphic novel about Jo van Gogh-Bonger unless there's already one.
These negative traits are pointed out to you by a woman named Jo van Gogh-Bonger, the wife of Theo Van Gogh. In this biography Jo is telling you the story of Vincent's life including some of Theo's and her own. This amazing woman helped create and kept alive the Van Gogh legacy and she gets a graphic novel where she's telling you Vincent's story. She's a bland character and if she's not shown in an illustration you would never know she's the storyteller.
I wish I could recommend it based on the art but I didn't even find the art that good though ome were decent. I just wasn't a fan of the style or coloring because it seemed more like a cartoon at times which is probably expected in a graphic novel.
Maybe in the future another author will create a graphic novel about Jo van Gogh-Bonger unless there's already one.
July 29, 2024
It is incredibly fitting to tell Vincent van Gogh’s life story in a graphic format. The artwork is beautiful yet simple; renderings of his actual paintings have that Vincent style while still retaining the style of the rest of the images as well. This graphic biography really paints the picture of his highs and lows. It is also so fitting for the artist who signed his work with his first name, forging a connection between artist and viewer, to have his story narrated by someone (his sister-in-law) who knew him closely so as to make it feel as though we are all old friends by the end. Vincent’s family strife, struggles with his mental health, and artistic studies are all outlined. In truth, this is not just a story of Vincent Van Gogh but also of Jo, Theo, and their son Vincent. The tragedies and triumphs of the lives and deaths of the van Gogh family will stick with you. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
June 26, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC
If you are interested in learning about Van Gogh and don't have much (or any) prior knowledge about him and his life, this book could be a good introduction. This book gave me a rudimentary knowledge about the artist which I appreciate.
I also think that this book didn't know what it wanted to be. It was written in simple language, that mirrored that of juvenile non-fiction but it is not meant for children. The art wasn't used to tell the story, at least not effectively, so it was just kind of there. I think this book would be better if the art was incorporated more and the language was more aimed at adults. As it is, it reads as a lengthy museum plaque, which is fine, but I don't think that was the author's intention.
If you are interested in learning about Van Gogh and don't have much (or any) prior knowledge about him and his life, this book could be a good introduction. This book gave me a rudimentary knowledge about the artist which I appreciate.
I also think that this book didn't know what it wanted to be. It was written in simple language, that mirrored that of juvenile non-fiction but it is not meant for children. The art wasn't used to tell the story, at least not effectively, so it was just kind of there. I think this book would be better if the art was incorporated more and the language was more aimed at adults. As it is, it reads as a lengthy museum plaque, which is fine, but I don't think that was the author's intention.
November 16, 2025
The story of Vincent is a beautiful one. Having visited the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, we were immersed into Vincent’s incredible, poetic, beautiful, heart wrenching world. We re-watched ‘Loving Vincent’. And now, this little graphic novel. Told from the perspective of his sister in law, Jo, who was the hero who told Vincent’s story to the world after his death, never giving up her belief in how important Vincent’s life and work would one day be for the world. The artwork itself is a little basic in the book, but the story is told well.
December 25, 2024
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this Van Gogh graphic biography is that it's from the perspective of his sister-in-law. Jo Van Gogh spent her entire life promoting and protecting Van Gogh's artistic legacy. It was a labor of love towards Vincent, and towards her own late husband, Theodore. It's likely only because of her tireless efforts that his works are among the most famous and beloved paintings of all time.
May 26, 2024
This book simply is a biography about Vincent Van Gogh. I really enjoyed reading about Van Gogh in a graphic novel format. I enjoyed the artwork (not just Van Gogh's) throught the book. I would say this is a must-have for anyone who is a fan of Van Gogh!
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!
July 12, 2024
This book made me emotional. I had been to Van goghs exhibition in London but I did not know about his life so closely. The authentic storyline and Vincent’s characteristics are so well portrayed by his sister in law. I really want to go to the museum now. Excellent graphic novel I have read recently. All the artwork was so vibrant and well represented. I think it’s a very well compiled book.
August 23, 2024
As I have gotten older art is something that is appreciated for me. Learning the story hewing the artists and their work is very interesting to me. This summer we visited the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. When I saw that there was a graphic novel that told the story of his life it interested me. It is a comprehensive story of this life, loves, and death told from the perspective of his sister in law who is responsible for him being as famous as he is now. The illustrations are beautiful and I really enjoyed it.
October 14, 2024
Interesting information, not very wowed by the art or the writing
March 19, 2025
I like how this was told from Jo’s perspective!
May 9, 2025
I thought I knew everything about Vincent Van Gogh. I have been a fan since an early age. I picked this book up at an independent bookstore due to my interest and because I enjoy graphic novels. This story is told in the first person by the wife of Theo, Vincent’s brother. It is based on the letters she received upon the death of the brothers. I learned Theo died not long after VIncent. It is very informative on VIncent’s early life which was newer information for me. Also the later details also add to what I already knew. The illustrations are very good by the author. I highly recommend this book.
July 31, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Vincent: A Graphic Biography is a quick read, but if like me, you are easily undone by all things Van Gogh, this book might take an emotional toll on you.
While it is no surprise that Van Gogh experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows throughout his life, it is still devastating to read about it all. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's sister-in-law, and the subsequent champion of his work, narrates this book. She presents a succient recounting of Van Gogh's life, from his upbringing in the Dutch countryside, all the way to his final days in Auvers-sur-Oise.
I wished this book included more details about Van Gogh's paintings, but apart from that, it serves as a grear beginner's guide to anyone looking to delve into the exhilarating and tortured world of Vincent Van Gogh.
Vincent: A Graphic Biography is a quick read, but if like me, you are easily undone by all things Van Gogh, this book might take an emotional toll on you.
While it is no surprise that Van Gogh experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows throughout his life, it is still devastating to read about it all. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's sister-in-law, and the subsequent champion of his work, narrates this book. She presents a succient recounting of Van Gogh's life, from his upbringing in the Dutch countryside, all the way to his final days in Auvers-sur-Oise.
I wished this book included more details about Van Gogh's paintings, but apart from that, it serves as a grear beginner's guide to anyone looking to delve into the exhilarating and tortured world of Vincent Van Gogh.
July 26, 2024
A beautiful graphic novel that depicts the interconnected nature of Vincent, Theo, and Jo Van Gogh. Beautiful read.
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