Van Gogh: A Self-Portrait: Letters Revealing His Life As a Painter

by Vincent van Gogh, W.H. Auden (Editor)

Book by Gogh, Vincent Van

Genres: Art, Art History, Biography

302 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Vincent Willem van Gogh, for whom color was the chief symbol of expression, was born in Groot-Zundert, Holland. The son of a pastor, brought up in a religious and cultured atmosphere, Vincent was highly emotional and lacked self-confidence. Between 1860 and 1880, when he finally decided to become an artist, van Gogh had had two unsuitable and unhappy romances and had worked unsuccessfully as a clerk in a bookstore, an art salesman, and a preacher in the Borinage (a dreary mining district in Belgium), where he was dismissed for overzealousness. He remained in Belgium to study art, determined to give happiness by creating beauty. The works of his early Dutch period are somber-toned, sharply lit, genre paintings of which the most famous is "The Potato Eaters" (1885). In that year van Gogh went to Antwerp where he discovered the works of Rubens and purchased many Japanese prints.

In 1886 he went to Paris to join his brother Théo, the manager of Goupil's gallery. In Paris, van Gogh studied with Cormon, inevitably met Pissarro, Monet, and Gauguin, and began to lighten his very dark palette and to paint in the short brushstrokes of the Impressionists. His nervous temperament made him a difficult companion and night-long discussions combined with painting all day undermined his health. He decided to go south to Arles where he hoped his friends would join him and help found a school of art. Gauguin did join him but with disastrous results. In a fit of epilepsy, van Gogh pursued his friend with an open razor, was stopped by Gauguin, but ended up cutting a portion of his ear lobe off. Van Gogh then began to alternate between fits of madness and lucidity and was sent to the asylum in Saint-Remy for treatment.

In May of 1890, he seemed much better and went to live in Auvers-sur-Oise under the watchful eye of Dr. Gachet. Two months later he was dead, having shot himself "for the good of all." During his brief career he had sold one painting. Van Gogh's finest works were produced in less than three years in a technique that grew more and more impassioned in brushstroke, in symbolic and intense color, in surface tension, and in the movement and vibration of form and line. Van Gogh's inimitable fusion of form and content is powerful; dramatic, lyrically rhythmic, imaginative, and emotional, for the artist was completely absorbed in the effort to explain either his struggle against madness or his comprehension of the spiritual essence of man and nature.

Reviews

[Bryan Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. At times, of course, had to 'persevere' a bit and at other times struggled to understand quite what he meant but to wallow in his language, his thoughts and his world for a while was definitely what I wanted - an effective way to feel that you better understand the artist, his work and his life, as well as the times he lived in. As often with older (auto)biographical books, it's sometimes striking how relevant some of the observations, issues and general themes remain in modern life. There's no question he was an individual, falling out with everyone left, right and centre, but he was clearly a tender, sensitive, troubled and caring man in so many ways. Further, I was surprised how, in general, he came across as optimistic and positive and full of joy at life's richness, particularly, of course, nature. I'd have thought it very useful reading in particular for anyone looking to unlock a wider vision of creativity and visual art. It's simply a useful and extremely valid way to try to move away from the simple caricature that has become our vision of who Van Gogh was. We're lucky to have this record and it's a pity that none of the letters, as I understand it, written TO him have been retained.

[Stella Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have to give this 5 stars because these are real letters written. Tough book to read. Learnt a lot about art, especially about the importance of observing the human anatomy and the use of colours. Even geniuses need to put in hard work and practice. He did not get to enjoy "success" in his lifetime, which makes me rethink what success really is. Blown away by the love shared between the brothers. Shocked to know that his brother died 6months after his death out of sadness. Disappointed that the book did not include an insert of most of the paintings mentioned in the letters.

[lee lee]

i am *trying* to read this book... i *want* to read this book. it's just kind of boring to read van gogh's writing. he was a much better painter! also, he's so depressing....... anne sexton was so much more up-and-down.

[Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel as if I just lost a dear, dear friend.

[Joan Wetherell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring. I really wanted to like it but think I will look for a biography instead.