Life According to Vincent

by Van Gogh Museum, Nienke Bakker (Editor), Ann Blokland (Editor)

150 Inspiring Quotes

Vincent van Gogh on art, love, nature, colour, ambition, friendship, future, sorrow and consolation.

For more than a century, Vincent van Gogh’s letters have been a source of inspiration to many. This book of quotes unites the exceptional and touching words of Van Gogh. Read his compelling thoughts on love, friendship, the comfort offered by art and literature, passion for work, the importance of ambition, dealing with setbacks and the beauty of nature.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Biography

208 pages, Paperback

Reviews

[Julia Slingerland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vincent. Deserved. Better.

[claudia ⋆˚࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una muy bonita recopilación de algunas de las más inspiradoras citas de Vicent Van Gogh de sus cartas a Theo (que aún quedan pendientes pues la escritura de V. G. es hermosa, al igual que su arte). Me compré este libro antes de ayer, en el museo de Van Gogh en Ámsterdam. Ha sido un acierto, incluye muchas de sus pinturas, bocetos y dibujos que acompañan su sentimiento casi poético en sus palabras. Me ha gustado que se haya clasificado por temas como amor, enfermedad, arte, naturaleza, etc.

"In life and in painting too, I can easily do without the dear Lord, but I can't, suffering as I do, do without something greater than myself, which is my life, the power to create. And if frustrated in this power physically, we try to create thoughts instead of children; in that way, we're part of humanity all the same."

"There are so many people who imagine that words are nothing. On the contrary, don't you think, it's interesting and as difficult to say a thing well as to paint a thing. There's the art of lines and colours, but there's the art of words that will last just the same."

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing selected quotes beautifully arranged and astonishing drawings/pieces of his art that are less celebrated but are a nice discovery!

[nayezi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really interesting quotes that can help you understand van Gogh better.

[Valerie (Pate) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful little book. I bought it at the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and have dipped in and out of it for months now - opening to random quotes and allowing them to bubble away in my brain throughout the day. Van Gogh was a fascinating person. On one hand he felt completely 'demoralized' by sadness, and yet he spoke of being in communion with Nature - of nature telling him something, which he then strove to adequately put down on the page. He was tireless in his pursuit of perfection as an artist, and yet he remained vehemently critical of his attempts, painting at least thirty-six self portraits in just ten years.
Much like a book of poetry, this volume only offers quotes and illustrations, with the exception of its Preface. Still, I find it makes a superb addition to my biography shelf, and I am thankful that Van Gogh has left us with the ability to hear from him, in his own words, through the remarkable collection of correspondences he wrote to friends and family (mostly his brother, Theo) throughout his lifetime.

[April Funk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was very beautiful. And I think it described things in a lovely way, and a perspective I found simple but deep and in other better words artistic

[Neil Pasricha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to touch one of my idols years ago: after becoming infatuated with the writing of ​David Mitchell​ (‘​Cloud Atlas​’) I interviewed him for 3 Books. Through his publicist I got an email with 4 formative books from him in advance so we had to cull one from the set to fit my obtrusively-rigid format. So before I hit ‘record’ I got to listen to David’s quick but thoughtful reflection on each book and we ended up going with ‘​The Wizard of Earthsea​’ by Ursula K. Le Guin, ‘​The Duel​’ by Anton Chekhov, and ‘​The Reason I Jump​’ by Naoki Higashida, thereby narrowly leaving ‘​The Letters of Vincent van Gogh​’ on the shelf. I heard David’s sigh as he left it off. Clearly this was a book of emotional weight and significance! I had already bought the book, flipped through it a bit, but it was massive. The guy wrote almost a thousand letters in his short 37 years … including 650 alone to his brother! So I was thrilled to discover in Amsterdam last month at the ​Van Gogh Museum​ this shorter collection of literary gems culled thoughtfully from his letters. His skill with words equalled his skill with brush. He knew it was just as tough! From Page 32: “There are so many people […] who imagine that words are nothing. On the contrary, don’t you think, it’s as interesting and as difficult to say a thing well as to paint a thing. There’s the art of lines and colours, but there’s the art of words that will last just the same.” From Page 48: “Always continue walking a lot and loving nature, for that’s the real way to learn to understand art better and better.” There is inspiration: “I keep on making what I can’t do yet in order to learn to be able to do it.” (Page 81). There is mental health: “I well knew that one could break one’s arms and legs before, and that then afterwards that could get better but I didn’t know that one could break one’s brain and that afterwards that got better too.” (Page 98). And: “Every day I take the remedy that the incomparable Dickens prescribes against suicide. It consists of a glass of wine, a piece of bread and cheese and a pipe of tobacco.” (Page 100). And: “The best consolation, if not the only remedy, is, it still seems to me, profound friendships, even if these have the disadvantage of anchoring us in life more solidly than may appear desirable to us in the days of great suffering.” (Page 112). There are endless beautiful sentences like from Page 56: “How much good it does a person if one is in a gloomy mood to walk on the empty beach and look into the grey-green sea with the long white lines of the waves.” To feel the genius of Van Gogh (pronounced “van-guhh”, with a nasally-phlegmatic final syllable) through a different valance, one with equal depth, nuance, and complexity, rendered down to simple and striking lines, offers deep illumination to his art and many ideas on living an intentional life full of artistic temerity and strength. From Page 53: “I’d almost believe that these canvases will tell you what I can’t say in words, what I consider health and fortifying about the countryside.”The painting above was painted just a few weeks before he shot himself in the chest with a revolver (which, btw, he only died from in the inn he was staying at a few days later, smiling with a group of family and friends, still smoking and drinking, and assuring everybody he was of sound mind and did this because he wanted to—“My body is mine and I am free to do with it as I wish”). Who knows the full story? Maybe we’ll never know. But when people around his bedside said they would still try to save his life he replied “Then I will have to do it again.”Thank you, Vincent, who died poor, with no partner, with no children, but with one dear brother (who died six months later at age 33) and a brand new nephew—which inspired his Almond Blossom above—who three-quarters of century later would donate all of Van Gogh’s art to the foundation and museum that now bears his name … and which created this wonderful book. One tip: If you’re going to Amsterdam ​buy tickets before you go​—it sells out every day—and pick an early morning or late night slot so you can enjoy the museum when it’s a bit quieter. And pay the €3.75 for the audio tour! From Page 99: “Possible that these great geniuses are no more than crazies, and that to have faith and boundless admiration for them you’d have to be a crazy too. That may well be—I would prefer my madness to other people’s wisdom.”

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I well knew that one could break one’s arms and legs before, and that then afterwards that could get better but I didn’t know that one could break one’s brain and that afterwards that got better too. -- Vincent Van Gogh

Honestly, when I picked this book up while visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, I was thinking “Inspirational? But he was so troubled. How could there be inspiration?” and then I opened the book to a random page. And it happened to be the page with the above quote. My eyes watered. I felt a kinship and connection. I internally fist-pumped to the sky because I had been there, healed that. Then I bought the book to bring home with me.

In each of the sections, I found at least one quote that spoke to me in some way. But it was the Life section that yielded the most Post-it flagged pages. As with many quotation books though, I bet that, on my next read of the volume, a different section will speak louder. Or maybe not. Regardless, this slight book will stay close by, offering comfort, insight, wisdom, encouragement.

[Camila Lacerda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d like to praise this beautiful collection of poetic and thoughtful phrases wrote by Vincent during his correspondences with his brother - Theo.

I find it extremely beautiful and fascinating the way Vincent felt, saw and understood the world around him - and even more - how he managed to transport this feelings into his art.

Moreover, it’s incredible the way that he was ambitious, driven by the thought he was destined to accomplish great things - and he couldn’t be more right ;)

He lived in the hopes that his art would touch people’s hearts and speak to them in the same way that he was touched and mesmerized by nature and its beauty.

Throughout the book I saw myself in many of his thoughts and emotions.

Deep admiration <3

Thank you for everything, Vincent.

[Will G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book as a souvenir when visiting Amsterdam, so other than knowing that it contains a lot of Van Gogh sketches by flipping through it, I expect nothing more.

But when I actually read it, I realized that this book is put together in a way that shows us what Vincent really thought about life.

Since I bought the English version, I'm sure there are some translated phrases that don't really capture the full meaning in Dutch, but it is not a detriment to appreciating this book.

And yes, the sketches are stunning. I love some of them more than some of the paintings.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m happy I bought this book from the Van Gough museum in Amsterdam. It connected his paintings with the inner workings of his mind, and showed how different his mind was, how he struggled to express himself and be understood by others. I appreciated the biography timeline in the back, which was similar to the one at the museum.

[sinyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

wise and depressing

[Paul Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure; there’s a reason he was an artist. You can hear the struggle.

[Lilith Bittar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real, touching and wise.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and encouraging. If you’re a Van Gogh fan, I highly recommend getting a copy.

[Morgan Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book.

[Oğuz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book with a great glimpse into Van Gogh’s mind and illustrations.

[Jezrelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Books and reality and art are the same kind of thing for me.”

[Sim · Rating 5 out of 5]

güzel işlenmiş alıntılar. onu daha yakından tanıyabilmek çok güzel.