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Lives of the Artists
Memoir of Vincent Van Gogh
The general outlines of Vincent van Gogh’s life—the early difficulties in Holland and Paris, the revelatory impact of the move to Provence, the attacks of madness and despair that led to his suicide—are almost as familiar as his paintings. Yet neither the paintings nor Van Gogh’s story might have survived at all had it not been for his sister-in-law, the teacher, translator, and socialist Jo van Gogh-Bonger.
Jo married the painter’s brother, Theo, in 1889, and over the next two years lived through the deaths of both Vincent and her new husband. Left with an infant son, she inherited little save a cache of several hundred paintings and an enormous archive of letters. Advised to consign these materials to an attic, she instead dedicated her life to making them known. Over the next three decades she tirelessly promoted Vincent’s art, organizing major exhibitions and compiling and editing the correspondence, the first edition of which included, as a preface, her account of Van Gogh’s life. This short biography, written from a vantage point of familial intimacy, affords a revealing and, at times, heartbreaking testimony to the painter’s perilous life.
An introduction by the art critic and scholar Martin Gayford provides an insightful discussion of the author’s relationship with the Van Goghs, while abundant color illustrations throughout the book trace the development of the painter’s signature style.
Jo married the painter’s brother, Theo, in 1889, and over the next two years lived through the deaths of both Vincent and her new husband. Left with an infant son, she inherited little save a cache of several hundred paintings and an enormous archive of letters. Advised to consign these materials to an attic, she instead dedicated her life to making them known. Over the next three decades she tirelessly promoted Vincent’s art, organizing major exhibitions and compiling and editing the correspondence, the first edition of which included, as a preface, her account of Van Gogh’s life. This short biography, written from a vantage point of familial intimacy, affords a revealing and, at times, heartbreaking testimony to the painter’s perilous life.
An introduction by the art critic and scholar Martin Gayford provides an insightful discussion of the author’s relationship with the Van Goghs, while abundant color illustrations throughout the book trace the development of the painter’s signature style.
192 pages, Paperback
Published December 12, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 1, 2024
I'm having a book hangover. It may have been a very short book, but none-the-less, this is a book hangover for sure. I'm hanging onto every last feeling I got from reading Jo Van Gogh Bonger's compassionate retelling of the life of her brother-in-law, Vincent.
This was originally written as an introduction to the first published collection of Vincent Van Gogh's letters to his brother, Theo (mainly to Theo). After Vincent and Theo died within about six months of each other, Jo, age about 32, with a one-year-old child, inherited everything, including over 300 of Vincent's paintings and all the letters Theo had collected.
Theo, with his stable Paris lifestyle, saved all his letters. Vincent, with his unstable lifestyle and many moves from city to city to city, wasn't saving letters. He was just trying to survive and paint.
This is a great little book (little, very little). It contains many of his paintings in lovely full color.
It is a must-read for fans of Vincent Van Gogh, the lonely master artist and philosopher. I loved reading Jo's insights. She tells much more than was in the collection of The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh that I recently read.
100% clean, of course. A lovely book.
This was originally written as an introduction to the first published collection of Vincent Van Gogh's letters to his brother, Theo (mainly to Theo). After Vincent and Theo died within about six months of each other, Jo, age about 32, with a one-year-old child, inherited everything, including over 300 of Vincent's paintings and all the letters Theo had collected.
Theo, with his stable Paris lifestyle, saved all his letters. Vincent, with his unstable lifestyle and many moves from city to city to city, wasn't saving letters. He was just trying to survive and paint.
This is a great little book (little, very little). It contains many of his paintings in lovely full color.
It is a must-read for fans of Vincent Van Gogh, the lonely master artist and philosopher. I loved reading Jo's insights. She tells much more than was in the collection of The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh that I recently read.
100% clean, of course. A lovely book.
May 10, 2024
I really admire Jo's relentless compassion for Vincent.
If it wasn't for her, Vincent's remarkable story and marvelous works would have been forgotten.
If it wasn't for her, Vincent's remarkable story and marvelous works would have been forgotten.
May 14, 2023
Short, brief, pocket-sized.
November 2, 2024
I had never heard of Johanna van Gogh-Bonger until I came across this. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger was married to Vincent’s brother, Theo.
In reading this I discovered that it was her tireless efforts that we have come to know Vincent van Gogh’s paintings. This also made me realise that sometimes the people who stand behind a genius are just as important. And when it’s a genius like Vincent van Gogh it’s easier for them to be forgotten.
This was a nice reminder that there is a bigger story to the artist who gave us Sunflowers.
In reading this I discovered that it was her tireless efforts that we have come to know Vincent van Gogh’s paintings. This also made me realise that sometimes the people who stand behind a genius are just as important. And when it’s a genius like Vincent van Gogh it’s easier for them to be forgotten.
This was a nice reminder that there is a bigger story to the artist who gave us Sunflowers.
October 27, 2020
"In 1889 Theo wrote me about Rodin's marble head of John thee Baptist: 'the scultor has concived an image of the precursor of Christ that exactly resembles Vincent. Yet he never saw him. That expression of sorrow, that forehead disfigured that deep furrows witch denotes high thinking and iron self-discipline, is Vincent's, through he is somewhat more sloping; tha shape of the nosse and structure of the head are the same'. When I later saw he bust, I found in it a perfect resemble to Theo."
This hit hard everytime,,
This hit hard everytime,,
April 4, 2019
Nice lil pocket glimpse of Van Gogh and his life. A little spacious but the paintings cover it
November 1, 2021
For someone who hasn’t read any of Van Gogh’s letters or previous books on his life, I feel like this was a great place to start.
I’ve always gotten slightly annoyed that some try and romanticize Vincent’s life, because it was anything but that. He was a difficult person to be around because of his mental instability, and constantly neglected his health- reasoning that he couldn’t spoil himself. He had twisted views of himself, food, and relationships. These memoirs gave me so much more insight on what kind of person Vincent was and how taxing it was for his family to live with him, and try to comfort him.
There were very few times he truly felt happy, and most of them were due to his painting. It was interesting to connect which paintings were done when he was in one of his calm spouts, and the others when he felt low and hopeless.
I’ve always gotten slightly annoyed that some try and romanticize Vincent’s life, because it was anything but that. He was a difficult person to be around because of his mental instability, and constantly neglected his health- reasoning that he couldn’t spoil himself. He had twisted views of himself, food, and relationships. These memoirs gave me so much more insight on what kind of person Vincent was and how taxing it was for his family to live with him, and try to comfort him.
There were very few times he truly felt happy, and most of them were due to his painting. It was interesting to connect which paintings were done when he was in one of his calm spouts, and the others when he felt low and hopeless.
January 10, 2022
After recently attending the Van Gogh Experience I wanted to learn more about this eccentric artist. This book was written by the artist’s sister in law after keeping the letters and many of his art. During his life, Van Gogh didn’t get much recognition nor had much success. Johanna recognized his brilliancy and wanted to ensure the world knew about him, his struggles and his beautiful pieces of art. I have a new appreciation for Van Gogh with his struggle with mental health he created such beautiful work. Also have appreciation is his sister in law’s forethought in saving and sharing so the world will understand and have a greater appreciation for the art and rhe most extraordinary artist.
April 27, 2022
This was really interesting and also had a lot of pretty pictures which was nice! I never really read about art or even memoirs in general (nothing against them, just not what I tend to drift towards) so it was a pleasant surprise that I found so much enjoyment in this book. It was so interesting to read even from the point of view of wanting to learn about the culture and history of both the Netherlands and France, but also of course as a way of learning about Van Gogh himself and his quite extraordinary life.
October 16, 2019
This wonderful little book was recommended to me by someone working in the book shop of the Van Gogh museum. Thank you so much whoever you are!
It is a fascinating, factual memoir written by Vincent van Gogh's sister in law. All the years the Vincent struggled with life, art and his mental health his brother Theo was there for financial and emotional support. In so many ways Theo, as much as Vincent is responsible for the wealth of paintings that so many people in the world (myself included) adore. Until I visited the museum I never knew that we owe a debt, almost as great to Jo van Gogh-Bonger who after the deaths of both Vincent and Theo is fast succession made it her lifes work to put those painting into the world and make them famous.
Jo's memoir is a nicely written, matter of fact, description of Vincent's life as seen from the side of his family and while I have read several books about van Gogh the different perspective on his life was really absorbing. I found myself reading it slowly, to make this little book last longer.
The book is peppered with lovely colour plates of Vincent's work which show the slow progressing from his dark, somber early work to the sudden explosion of colour and motion that occurred after his stay in Paris. This progression was as obvious in this little book as it was in the museum and I was reminded of a lecture I watched, describing the affect of the industrial revolution on these paintings. Impressionism influenced van Gogh's painting but even more we are indebted to the chemical paints that suddenly exploded into use as byproducts of industry. And, the invention of the paint tube, of course, allowing Vincent to work outdoors.
The memoir includes some excerpts from the letters between Vincent and Theo, but mostly it is Jo's voice and the family experiences and ties, the early life and the last years all come across in a totally different way to anything I had read on the topic before.
A small book, but throughly charming.
It is a fascinating, factual memoir written by Vincent van Gogh's sister in law. All the years the Vincent struggled with life, art and his mental health his brother Theo was there for financial and emotional support. In so many ways Theo, as much as Vincent is responsible for the wealth of paintings that so many people in the world (myself included) adore. Until I visited the museum I never knew that we owe a debt, almost as great to Jo van Gogh-Bonger who after the deaths of both Vincent and Theo is fast succession made it her lifes work to put those painting into the world and make them famous.
Jo's memoir is a nicely written, matter of fact, description of Vincent's life as seen from the side of his family and while I have read several books about van Gogh the different perspective on his life was really absorbing. I found myself reading it slowly, to make this little book last longer.
The book is peppered with lovely colour plates of Vincent's work which show the slow progressing from his dark, somber early work to the sudden explosion of colour and motion that occurred after his stay in Paris. This progression was as obvious in this little book as it was in the museum and I was reminded of a lecture I watched, describing the affect of the industrial revolution on these paintings. Impressionism influenced van Gogh's painting but even more we are indebted to the chemical paints that suddenly exploded into use as byproducts of industry. And, the invention of the paint tube, of course, allowing Vincent to work outdoors.
The memoir includes some excerpts from the letters between Vincent and Theo, but mostly it is Jo's voice and the family experiences and ties, the early life and the last years all come across in a totally different way to anything I had read on the topic before.
A small book, but throughly charming.
August 8, 2022
This small book is written by Van Gogh’s sister-in-law. She is the one who, after his death, worked tirelessly to promote his paintings and make him famous. So her perspective is through the eyes of her husband Theo, Van Gogh’s brother, and her own first hand experience. Very interesting and very sad.
December 1, 2025
Podemos verdadeiramente separar a obra do artista? Eu acredito que não. Para compreender uma criação na sua plenitude as suas origens, o seu significado íntimo, o sopro emocional que lhe deu forma é necessário conhecer, ainda que de relance, quem a concebeu. As suas motivações, os seus medos, a sua forma de olhar o mundo.
Vincent van Gogh sempre me intrigou: a sua devoção quase sagrada à natureza, a capacidade de encontrar grandeza em objetos simples, e a profundidade emocional que emerge das suas pinturas com uma aparente simplicidade pequenos traços, cores intensas, mas sempre um universo inteiro a pulsar por baixo. Há algo nele que nos alcança sem pedir permissão.
Ler este livro foi como abrir uma janela para dentro da alma de Van Gogh. Acompanhar a sua história permitiu-me deixar de ser apenas uma espectadora distante, que observa um quadro pendurado numa parede, para me tornar alguém que vive cada obra por dentro. Alguém que não vê apenas cores e formas, mas também o sentimento, as emoções, os traumas, a esperança e a vulnerabilidade que as alimentam.
Por isso, considero este livro não apenas útil, mas essencial. É uma ponte que nos leva a conhecer melhor este artista extraordinário e a olhar para as suas obras não apenas com os olhos mas com a sensibilidade de quem finalmente compreende a vida que lhes deu origem.
Vincent van Gogh sempre me intrigou: a sua devoção quase sagrada à natureza, a capacidade de encontrar grandeza em objetos simples, e a profundidade emocional que emerge das suas pinturas com uma aparente simplicidade pequenos traços, cores intensas, mas sempre um universo inteiro a pulsar por baixo. Há algo nele que nos alcança sem pedir permissão.
Ler este livro foi como abrir uma janela para dentro da alma de Van Gogh. Acompanhar a sua história permitiu-me deixar de ser apenas uma espectadora distante, que observa um quadro pendurado numa parede, para me tornar alguém que vive cada obra por dentro. Alguém que não vê apenas cores e formas, mas também o sentimento, as emoções, os traumas, a esperança e a vulnerabilidade que as alimentam.
Por isso, considero este livro não apenas útil, mas essencial. É uma ponte que nos leva a conhecer melhor este artista extraordinário e a olhar para as suas obras não apenas com os olhos mas com a sensibilidade de quem finalmente compreende a vida que lhes deu origem.
January 20, 2019
This is a small pocket sized book written by Jo Bonger van Gogh, who was the wife of Vincent's brother Theo. The book was very interesting and I have no doubt that the author did a fantastic job in keeping Vincent van Gogh's name alive and keeping his work in the public eye. Vincent and Theo were very close but Jo only really came into their lives in their final years. Jo only met Vincent a couple of times. I know Jo inherited the paintings of Vincent van Gogh and the many letters he sent Theo but I find it difficult to see how she was so involved. The book was an easy read and is illustrated by some of Vincent's work. This book would make a great small gift for anyone with an interest in van Gogh's paintings.
July 5, 2020
A pocket-sized biography of Vincent van Gogh penned by his sister-in-law, whose written testimony and overseeing of his works did much posthumously to secure van Gogh’s historical standing. Van Gogh-Bonger’s account is accessible if measured, and liberal in its reproduction of paintings.
October 19, 2018
A unique perspective on the artist and his work.
July 24, 2019
I give this little interesting book 3.5 stars. Good and quick read, told by Vincent Van Gogh sister in law.
September 4, 2019
I just adored reading this book. Love the artist.
February 23, 2022
After recently seeing 3 Van Gogh exhibits and listening to “Dear Theo”, this little book provided insightful background that tied it together. It was written by Vincent’s sister-in-law.
March 20, 2022
We named our daughter after Jo Van Gogh so I found this firsthand account very interesting.
August 1, 2022
JUSTICE FOR MY MAN
June 13, 2025
Jo was great.
December 8, 2025
The most accurate biography about Vincent’s life.
July 21, 2019
Having seen the Van Gogh exhibition at Tate Britain, this remarkable book by his sister in law, gives an insight into the troubled life of such a fantastic artist.
October 23, 2024
I purchased this book at @gettymuseum this summer. Vincent was a very troubled man, I knew just a little of his story but this book has incredible insight into his trials. He was rejected by several women he loved and many from his own family. He had no real direction in life and few respected his art while he was alive. I had no idea he once wanted to go into the church and even pursued his education to do so. His brother, Theo was the only person who supported him through all his up and downs. Vincent definitely battled some form of mental illness. I haven't read any theories, but from just reading this I think he could have been bipolar. He shot himself, but did not die for two days; his suicide was not quick.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2025
___________________________________
FROM BOOK:
- Sulle tracce di Van Gogh. Un viaggio sui luoghi dell’arte
- Van Gogh. L'infinito specchio. Il problema dell'autoritratto e della firma in Vincent (Mariella Guzzoni)
FROM BOOK:
- Sulle tracce di Van Gogh. Un viaggio sui luoghi dell’arte
- Van Gogh. L'infinito specchio. Il problema dell'autoritratto e della firma in Vincent (Mariella Guzzoni)
October 4, 2020
I bought this at the Van Gogh museum because of the pretty colors and nice paper, but it’s really one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews