Vincent Van Gogh: He Saw the World in Vibrant Colors

What the Artist Saw

by Amy Guglielmo, Petra Braun (Illustrator)

See the world through Vincent van Gogh's eyes and be inspired to produce your own masterpieces.

Have you ever wondered exactly what your favorite artists were looking at to make them draw, sculpt, or paint the way they did? In this charming illustrated series, created in full collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you can see what they saw, and be inspired to create your own artworks, too. In the pages of this book, What the Artist Vincent van Gogh , meet famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. Step into his life and learn what led him to paint his eye-catching self-portraits. See the landscapes that inspired his famous Wheat Fields . Have a go at painting your own sunflowers!

Follow the artists' stories and find intriguing facts about their environments and key masterpieces. Then see what you can see and make your own art. Take a closer look at nature with Georgia O'Keeffe. Try crafting a story in fabric like Faith Ringgold, or carve a woodblock print at home with Hokusai. Every book in this series is one to treasure and keep - the perfect gift for budding artists to explore exhibitions with, then continue their own artistic journeys.

© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Genres: Art, Biography, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, France, Juvenile

56 pages, Hardcover

Published September 7, 2021

About the author

Amy Guglielmo is an award-winning author, artist, art educator, public art and STEAM advocate. She writes children’s books about strong, pioneering women, and artsy, innovative people. Her titles include: the Christopher award-winning POCKET FULL OF COLORS: The Magical World of Mary Blair Disney Artist Extraordinaire (Atheneum 2017), the Touch the Art series (Sterling, 2006, 2009, 2010) and the PEEK-A-BOO ART Series (Cartwheel/Scholastic 2019, 2020) with Julie Appel, HOW TO BUILD A HUG: Temple Grandin and Her Amazing Squeeze Machine (Atheneum 2018) with co-author Jacqueline Tourville, CEZANNE'S PARROT (Putnam 2020) and JUST BEING DALI (Putnam 2021), the upcoming, LUCILLE BALL DID IT ALL (Abrams 2024), and the new WHAT THE ARTIST SAW series with The Metropolitan Museum of Art and DK. Amy is the Creative Director of Reading Rainbow Live. She brings over twenty years of experience in both children’s publishing and public and private school education to the Reading Rainbow Live team. Amy is represented by Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management. For more information go to www.amyguglielmo.com.

Amy lives with her husband on the shores of Mexico and Lake Champlain where she enjoys water sports just as long as she doesn't have to get her hair wet.

Twitter
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IG
@amy_guglielmo

Reviews

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of The Met's titles, that chronicles the life and work of one artist. This illustrated volume focuses on Vincent Van Gogh.

I have a love for many different artists without being aware of anything other than the briefest of details for their lives outside of the canvas. This simple and brief guide has allowed me to become acquainted with who the artist was, where he resided, and facts about his life from infancy and up until death.

I appreciated how this was laid out chronologically but also contained a timeline for some of Van Gogh's most infamous pieces at the end. This volume was illustrated on every page, in a bright and vivid style, and also contained many ideas for younger readers to look at the world with an artist's eye. It is a great read for a younger audience but I also found it highly interesting, as I knew very few of the facts it contained.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and illustrator, Amy Guglielmo, and the publisher, DK Children, for this opportunity.

[Darcel Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“People say...that it’s difficult to know oneself—but it’s not easy to paint oneself either.” Truer words have never been spoken.

This was another delightful read, with plenty of colourful and wonderful illustrations. Again, not biased because Van Gogh is also one of my favourite painters.

The book has the right amount of information for anyone who wants to learn more about Van Gogh's life and his works. It also shows you the kind of person he was; a dedicated and passionate yet unfortunately, troubled man. I believe anyone who plans to read this book will feel inspired by Van Gogh's love for art and being true to himself.

"How rich art is. If one can remember what one has seen, one is never empty of thoughts or truly lonely, never alone.”

As this book is meant for all ages and therefore, must be suitable for a younger audience, I thought the author did a great job with the way she described Van Gogh's mental illness and eventual suicide. It was not grotesque nor was it curt. It was instead straightforward and conveyed in a sensitive manner.

All in all, this book is great for fans of Van Gogh as well as Post-Impressionism art and for those who have always wanted to know more about him but have no idea where to start on.

"When my life is over, all I hope is that I shall depart it looking back with love and wistfulness and thinking: oh the paintings I might have made!”

Oh Vincent, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.

[Amit Tiwary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the comprehensive introductions to the masterclass and personality of Van Gogh. Please consider this series.

[Elif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book! I love Vincent van Gogh, and I'm always ready to read everything about him. This children's book didn't disappoint. It is easy to read, and the illustrations are lovely. Great book!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very long picture book and well worth the read. It’s a wonderful biography that will engage both younger and older children.

Note:
( This book does mention how Van Gogh cut off his ear, and quickly mentions that he shot himself in the chest and died.) I thought it was done gently, in a way that still teaches young children the truth about the artist, yet without unnecessary details.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book this afternoon and I thought that it was excellent.

I loved the way that his story was told and his mental health struggles were also covered and dealt with quite delicately when you look at the age range for the book too.

It was very well illustrated as you would expect with the focus of the book being on one of the world's most famous artists.

It is 5 stars from me for this one, I thoroughly enjoyed it - very highly recommended!

[sliceofmini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shout out to Jo for not letting go of his paintings

[Julia Pika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & DK Children's for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful illustrations, I was glad they didn't just "copy" van Gogh's art style throughout the book, it was the artist's original style, but van Gogh's original works were spread out throughout the book so we could get a better sense of his style and creativity.

I was worried how they'd handle the darker aspects of van Gogh's life, perhaps trying to simplify it or ignore it? Thankfully, the writer did a fantastic job of being honest. Vincent was a wonderful artist but had a troubled history, especially in regards to his struggle with his mental health, and the book doesn't sugar coat it. It doesn't go into too much detail either so it wouldn't scare kids off that much. Thank you for not ignoring his history and explaining his chaotic life!

Thank goodness the writer emphasized Theo and Vincent's brotherly bond, a lot of stories seem to gloss over that, but in this story, Theo is a positive influence throughout Vincent's life which was 100% true.

I appreciate the questions throughout the book to the reader, challenging them to draw what they see in the world around them, it's great for encouraging creativity!

The timeline of paintings at the end is absolutely beautiful and informative. This is a fantastic book for all ages!

[MookNana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly spectacular enrichment book for older elementary/middle school students. Van Gogh's life story is told simply, but in great detail and emphasizes what influenced and challenged him through his life. It does explicitly address his mental illness and self-harm, but in a matter-of-fact, non-judgmental way that is appropriate for young readers.

Aside from the fascinating story, there are beautiful illustrations and images of both Van Gogh's work and the work of his contemporaries. There are great creative prompts and exercises as well as a glossary of relevant art terms.

This would be a great addition to a classroom/school library and also a fantastic gift for budding artists!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Batu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resim yapmayı seven altı yaşındaki oğlum, Van Gogh’un Yıldızlı Gece’sinin en sevdiği tablo olduğunu söylediğinde bu kitabı ona hediye etmek istedim. Van Gogh’un hayat hikayesini beraberce okuduk, bir yandan da çizer hayal gücünü besleyen soruları cevapladık. Kitap biter bitmez o da kendi Yıldızlı Gece’sini çizdi, otoportresini ve ayçiçeklerini çizdi. Bu kitabı ve Van Gogh’u unutmayacağı için çok mutluyum.

[Ozge · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sanat ne kadar da zengin. Eğer kişi gördüklerini hatırlayabiliyorsa, asla düşüncelerden yoksun ya da gerçekten yalnız, asla bir başına değildir.” 1878, Van Gogh

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are several popular biography series for children, but What the Artist Saw stands out by using art to tell the artist's story, and by inviting the reader to create art of their own with prompts relating to the narrative. The book discussed van Gogh's experience with mental illness and his eventual suicide delicately and honestly. This title and its series are a welcome addition to biography collections for middle grade kids, and can be recommended to fans of Who Was? and Little People, Big Dreams.
Thank you to NetGalley & DK Children's for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Met Vincent Van Gogh: He Saw the World in Vibrant Colors by Amy Guglielmo is a beautifully illustrated picture book about the artist's life. I enjoyed learning about Vincent's life, and I imagine that children will learn a lot about Van Gogh and his artistry as well. The author did a great job of including details that children will relate to, such as questions and prompts about drawing and painting. I also liked how the author added a timeline and glossary information for readers to get a clear insight into when Van Gogh painted some of his masterpieces and what words like "Impressionists" mean. Overall, this is an excellent picture book that highlights the life of Vincent Van Gogh without depicting gory details but adds enough information to successfully portray his life. Children will enjoy responding to questions, prompts, and challenges from the book and the vibrant graphic designs and illustrations.

Thank you to NetGalley and DK Children for an eARC copy of this book.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Christine Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and beautiful eye-catching art. Enjoyed learning about Van Gogh's life

[Crystal Land · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn to this book for the author's art style, which is absolutely lovely. The biography provided was succinctly but nicely written, with real care paid to many aspects of van Gogh's story. Highly recommended.
(NetGalley provided me with a digital ARC of this book in return for an honest review.)

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved Van Gogh's work, but I know of his complicated life stories. I was intrigued with this book because I wanted to see how the author would address different things like when he cut off his ear, his fight with Gauguin, and also his suicide at the end of his life. The author tried to do these in a rather straightforward, no-nonsense way. The book also focuses a lot more on Van Gogh's evolution as an artist- the change in his styles, what inspired his works, and also his relationship with his brother Theo. At the end of the book, there's a timeline with his key work (which is wonderful!). All in all, I think this book is quite text-heavy. I think it would be more suitable for older students (5th grade and up). Some discussions about mental illness and suicide might be needed before letting students read this independently.

(I received an ARC from NetGalley. All reviews are my own.)

[Kinsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this new juvenile biography series. It has beautiful, engaging illustrations and the right balance of informative text to relate to young readers. I also really appreciate how most spreads have a question for the readers that encourages their participation in art, such as "what can you see from your window?" and "try drawing the same scene again and again." I'll be purchasing this full series for my library!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and easy to read. There was so much more to Vincent van Gogh's life than I knew about till now. The book also has actions and challenges throughout the book to do yourself.

[MKF]

Art is very important in our family and we read books on art, visit art museums, and watch documentaries on artist. Every wall in our house is covered in art and we still have piles to hang but there's no space. Something changed for my daughter's though after my sister and her husband to us to the Nelson-Atkins in KC. She told everyone she knew and constantly talked about a lion statue she fell in love with. This led to piles of books on art and all the different artists. She even got tons of drawing books so she could try to teach herself to draw better. But, back to the artist books she got three books in this series and they were Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas. Since she knows I love art so she asked me if we could read them together and I said yes. I really enjoyed these book and I would recommend it to others parents whose kids are interested in art or want to learn more about art. The only problem was the drawing prompts which sometimes is confusingly placed in between parts of the story. Though they are obvious and sometimes stand out there were many which my daughter read thinking it was part of the story itself. I think they should have placed them in a section in the back instead. Its not a deal breaker just a bit annoying.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book, that combines the life story of Vincent van Gogh with impetus at the end – and, at first (in rather unsettling fashion), on the pages of the narrative itself – for our own works of art. Such an idea is normally fabulous, and we get a good look at the esteemed New York Met and their van Gogh holdings, too – it's just a pity the narrative ignored the less-is-more lesson. What we see of his peripatetic life is interesting, but only to a point, and only to where it inflects on the art lessons he received. The narrative we get here, however, features each and every house move, every switch in consideration, every different job – and Vincent was a man who, for one reason or another, changed his hats more seldom than he changed home, career and intent. Having all the changes in these pages then is partly the fault of the man himself, but partly in the book, wanting everything but brevity. As far as giving us an appreciation of the man (sans mental problems where possible), and a good look at some of his art, it is still pretty damned high quality, but I would have changed the level of biographical detail.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van Gogh is my favorite artist. Some of his paintings bring me many emotions and sometimes tears because I'm so moved. I love seeing his art in person wherever I go so this book was a must read for me! Near the end of this book I was moved by his quotes and his paintings that I was on the verge of tears. It also made me think of the Doctor Who episode (if you know you know) which made me even more teary.

The illustrations in this book are awesome and the story is well said. I also have no idea how I studied art in school and did not know he committed suicide until I read this book! HOW DID I NOW KNOW THIS INFORMATION?!...Now that I'm thinking more about this I remember now that in my art history classes we only focused on when the artist died and not how they died...but this totally makes sense now. Vincent had a lot of mental issues and was a troubled soul. If he was born in the modern world he probably would have lived a longer life and got the help he needed. Although his art would be vastly different...

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduces the life and work of Van Gogh, one of the most famous and influential artists in Western art history.

Van Gogh is a representative figure of modern art and is said to have had a great influence on the avant-garde artists who emerged in the early 20th century.

There is speculation that Van Gogh suffered from Meniere's disease, and that he cut off his own ears due to his tinnitus and hyperacusis.

Also, since Van Gogh was young, he had a tendency to lose his temper and was unable to control his angry emotions, and he may have suffered from depression or bipolar disorder.

Van Gogh's painting career lasted only about 10 years, from the age of 27 until he took his own life at the age of 37, but during this time he left behind approximately 2,000 paintings.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In realtà esiste anche la versione italiana, anche se non è presente su GR. Si intitola Vedeva il mondo in un turbine di colori.
E questo titolo mi piace tantissimo.
Chiaramente è un libro per bambini, quindi omette (ma neanche tanto) alcuni dei fatti più tristi della storia di Vincent, ma nella sua brevità è davvero ben fatto. Le illustrazioni sono bellissime, sono esse stesse un turbine di colori.
Nota curiosa: pur avendo letto già innumerevoli libri e visitato musei e mostre su di lui, da questo piccolo libro ho imparato una cosa nuova che non sapevo!
E un plauso anche al fatto che i bambini trattano i libri della biblioteca con molta più cura degli adulti.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather nice informative book about Vincent. The book told a good story about his life. It has long been speculated that Van Gogh had suffered from mental illness in his life. This tome did touch on that with two sentences but more on this would have been a welcome addition.

It is marred by the "interactive" element that encourages younglings to draw/paint like the subject. It is placed in the text at places that takes the reader out of the narrative of the painter's life.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful design and focus on art. I particularly like the timeline that includes representative pieces. Biography raises more questions than it answers, especially in those of us who have heard other details of his life. Highly recommended to those interested if your library has it.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the Artist Saw is a new picture book biography series that introduces readers to artists and includes activities they can do themselves. This one focuses on Vincent Van Gogh. What I appreciated is that there were images of some of his work to help me better understand his art. I will definitely continue checking out the other books in this series.

[Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was extremely easy to understand and of course beautifully written. Not to forget all the amazing illustrations photos in the book! I recommend everyone to give their children to read all these 'The Met' series of books 📚

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The biographical narrative is well done and I enjoyed reading it. The prompts to the reader are intrusive and annoying, interrupting the flow of the story and I did not like them.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Van Gogh intro. age appropriate complexity. Engaged and challenged readers to be active.