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Jo van Gogh-Bonger: The Woman Who Made Vincent Famous
It is so good, after so many years of public indifference, even hostility towards Vincent and his work, to feel towards the end of my life that the battle is won.'
JO VAN GOGH-BONGER TO GUSTAVE COQUIOT, 1922
'It is a sacrifice for the sake of Vincent's glory.'
JO VAN GOGH-BONGER ON THE SALE OF 'THE SUNFLOWERS' TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY, UK, 1924
Little known but no less influential, Jo van Gogh-Bonger was sister-in-law of Vincent van Gogh, wife of his brother, Theo. When the brothers died soon after each other, she took charge of Van Gogh's artistic legacy and devoted the rest of her life to disseminating his work.
Despite being widowed with a young son, Jo successfully navigated the male-dominated world of the art market-publishing Van Gogh's letters, organizing exhibitions in the Netherlands and throughout the world, and making strategic sales to private individuals and influential dealers-ultimately establishing Van Gogh's reputation as one of the finest artists of his generation. In doing so, she fundamentally changed how we view the relationship between the artist and his work.
She also lived a rich and fascinating life-not only was she friends with eminent writers and artists, but she also was active within the Social Democratic Labour Party and closely involved in emerging women's movements.
Using rich source material, including unseen diaries, documents and letters, Hans Luijten charts the multi-faceted life of this visionary woman with the drive to shake the art world to its core.
JO VAN GOGH-BONGER TO GUSTAVE COQUIOT, 1922
'It is a sacrifice for the sake of Vincent's glory.'
JO VAN GOGH-BONGER ON THE SALE OF 'THE SUNFLOWERS' TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY, UK, 1924
Little known but no less influential, Jo van Gogh-Bonger was sister-in-law of Vincent van Gogh, wife of his brother, Theo. When the brothers died soon after each other, she took charge of Van Gogh's artistic legacy and devoted the rest of her life to disseminating his work.
Despite being widowed with a young son, Jo successfully navigated the male-dominated world of the art market-publishing Van Gogh's letters, organizing exhibitions in the Netherlands and throughout the world, and making strategic sales to private individuals and influential dealers-ultimately establishing Van Gogh's reputation as one of the finest artists of his generation. In doing so, she fundamentally changed how we view the relationship between the artist and his work.
She also lived a rich and fascinating life-not only was she friends with eminent writers and artists, but she also was active within the Social Democratic Labour Party and closely involved in emerging women's movements.
Using rich source material, including unseen diaries, documents and letters, Hans Luijten charts the multi-faceted life of this visionary woman with the drive to shake the art world to its core.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 15, 2022
The author, Hans Luijten, is a lifelong expert on Van Gogh, his life and his art. He was a co-editor of the complete letters and is a researcher at the Van Gogh Museum (a day's visit to this magnificent collection is by itself worth a trip to Amsterdam). Most people who are knowledgeable about Vincent know to various degrees the role played by Theo's widow, Jo, in leading the world to discover her late brother-in-law's work, and after reading this book you will be VERY knowledgeable. It is wonderfully written and Luijten keeps the reader's interest up, but it is also the ultimate reference book as to what happened to Vincent's paintings, letters, and drawings as well as his family.
Luijten was also involved in editing Jo's letters and diaries, which are available online, and he uses excerpts to bring Jo alive to the reader. She really had a tough life. She grew up in a large middle class Dutch family, the fifth of ten children, and the closeness of the mother to the children appears to have been stifling. Jo's father paid no attention to her and was cold in general. Her early diary entries are full of self-doubt and a commitment to better herself, and yet to the reader it is clear that she was very talented, intelligent, and a loving mother, friend, and spouse. She spent time in England and learned the language, largely by spending much time in the British Museum and studying in libraries. French came a bit harder and when she married Theo, his fluency made her feel inferior in social gatherings. But she learned the language perfectly as well as German. She became a teacher, translator of books and articles, author of poetry and stories, and especially of art criticism at which she excelled.
Her time with Theo was tragically short and he died of syphilis when their son, Vincent, was still a baby. I've always wondered why Theo married when he knew he had a fatal, communicable disease...but now I wonder if he actually knew the severity and chronicity of it. I believe I've read that Theo was taking mercury as treatment (the only treatment then available for STDs) so this remains confusing. The author describes the stages of the disease with contagion being primarily restricted to the early stages, and apparently Jo was never infected.
To support herself and their son, Jo started a boarding house which was labor-intensive to say the least. Her life's commitment remained a total devotion to little Vincent and his well-being, although their relationship was more symbiotic than he would have wanted according to his letters.
Jo later had an affair with an anti-commitment artist which she had to hide from her intrusive family. Later, she married a second time to a psychologically and physically weak painter who died of pleurisy while still in his thirties. These were not happy years for Jo or Vincent.
Perhaps equal to her lifelong to commitment to her son was her well-known devotion to her late brother-in-law's reputation as an artistic genius. His work was for years a subject of ridicule until other post-Impressionists began to break through. Jo began her constant work on his behalf even while still living in the apartment that she had shared with Theo, and she continued through the boarding house years and for the rest of her days.
When she started reading the approximately 860 letters between Theo and Vincent (about two thirds were from Vincent), it was like the proverbial lightning bolt for her. Theo had taught her extensively about art in general and Vincent's specifically, but it was reading the painter's eloquent and brilliant letters telling of his thoughts and emotions and describing specific works and his goals for line, color, and mood. More than anything, Jo realized that these writings would key to the art world knowing and understanding Vincent as a human being and as an artist.
She became possibly the greatest manager and agent for an artist in history. She rarely lowered prices, especially in the beginning when it would have been easiest; keeping prices high reinforced her insistence on the value of the work. The young wife who was so hard on herself and lacking in confidence became of necessity a firm-minded bargainer. It was vital to Jo never to "live off" Vincent's work, but to put away all proceeds for her son's future.
I've barely scratched the surface of the stories told in this book. It obviously will be of primary interest to lovers of Van Gogh's art, but as a tale of its times, early feminism, single parenthood, and many other things, it shines.
Luijten was also involved in editing Jo's letters and diaries, which are available online, and he uses excerpts to bring Jo alive to the reader. She really had a tough life. She grew up in a large middle class Dutch family, the fifth of ten children, and the closeness of the mother to the children appears to have been stifling. Jo's father paid no attention to her and was cold in general. Her early diary entries are full of self-doubt and a commitment to better herself, and yet to the reader it is clear that she was very talented, intelligent, and a loving mother, friend, and spouse. She spent time in England and learned the language, largely by spending much time in the British Museum and studying in libraries. French came a bit harder and when she married Theo, his fluency made her feel inferior in social gatherings. But she learned the language perfectly as well as German. She became a teacher, translator of books and articles, author of poetry and stories, and especially of art criticism at which she excelled.
Her time with Theo was tragically short and he died of syphilis when their son, Vincent, was still a baby. I've always wondered why Theo married when he knew he had a fatal, communicable disease...but now I wonder if he actually knew the severity and chronicity of it. I believe I've read that Theo was taking mercury as treatment (the only treatment then available for STDs) so this remains confusing. The author describes the stages of the disease with contagion being primarily restricted to the early stages, and apparently Jo was never infected.
To support herself and their son, Jo started a boarding house which was labor-intensive to say the least. Her life's commitment remained a total devotion to little Vincent and his well-being, although their relationship was more symbiotic than he would have wanted according to his letters.
Jo later had an affair with an anti-commitment artist which she had to hide from her intrusive family. Later, she married a second time to a psychologically and physically weak painter who died of pleurisy while still in his thirties. These were not happy years for Jo or Vincent.
Perhaps equal to her lifelong to commitment to her son was her well-known devotion to her late brother-in-law's reputation as an artistic genius. His work was for years a subject of ridicule until other post-Impressionists began to break through. Jo began her constant work on his behalf even while still living in the apartment that she had shared with Theo, and she continued through the boarding house years and for the rest of her days.
When she started reading the approximately 860 letters between Theo and Vincent (about two thirds were from Vincent), it was like the proverbial lightning bolt for her. Theo had taught her extensively about art in general and Vincent's specifically, but it was reading the painter's eloquent and brilliant letters telling of his thoughts and emotions and describing specific works and his goals for line, color, and mood. More than anything, Jo realized that these writings would key to the art world knowing and understanding Vincent as a human being and as an artist.
She became possibly the greatest manager and agent for an artist in history. She rarely lowered prices, especially in the beginning when it would have been easiest; keeping prices high reinforced her insistence on the value of the work. The young wife who was so hard on herself and lacking in confidence became of necessity a firm-minded bargainer. It was vital to Jo never to "live off" Vincent's work, but to put away all proceeds for her son's future.
I've barely scratched the surface of the stories told in this book. It obviously will be of primary interest to lovers of Van Gogh's art, but as a tale of its times, early feminism, single parenthood, and many other things, it shines.
October 1, 2022
After reading about Jo van Gogh-Bonger in books about Vincent van Gogh, her brother-in-law, I was curious to learn more about her. “This biography is about Jo’s tenacity, her boundless dedication and her surprisingly multilayered life,” Hans Luitjen writes in the forward.
Jo is a compelling character, encountered through quotes from her letters and diaries. A dreamy, idealistic, serious girl, Jo read widely and scrutinized herself through a diary, endeavoring to be kind, holding herself to high standards. She longed for love as she also longed to expand her world and embrace freedom. She was an activist in later life.
Jo married Theo van Gogh, Vincent’s brother and art seller. The marriage had its ups and downs before Theo’s early death shortly after his brother’s suicide. Theo had worked to educate Jo in contemporary art, but she had disappointed him. Now, she had control over Vincent’s work. She dedicated herself to promoting his art, getting it exhibited, and selling it. Part of the estate also had to be preserved for her son Vincent.
Jo had met Vincent after the birth of her child Vincent, after he left the asylum. The artist brought the beautiful painting of almond blossoms for the nursery. It stayed in the family.
It was Jo who translated Vincent’s letters into English and sought their publication. It was Jo who saw the first of Vincent’s work go into museums. This month I will see the Van Gogh in America exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Art, which in 1922 was the first museum in America to purchase a Van Gogh.
The author dismisses that Vincent feared that marriage would removed his brother’s financial and emotional support. In a letter, Theo told Jo that his brother “kept urging me to try to marry you.”
The book is filled with details of the provenance of Vincent’s work that art history scholars will appreciate.
I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
Jo is a compelling character, encountered through quotes from her letters and diaries. A dreamy, idealistic, serious girl, Jo read widely and scrutinized herself through a diary, endeavoring to be kind, holding herself to high standards. She longed for love as she also longed to expand her world and embrace freedom. She was an activist in later life.
Jo married Theo van Gogh, Vincent’s brother and art seller. The marriage had its ups and downs before Theo’s early death shortly after his brother’s suicide. Theo had worked to educate Jo in contemporary art, but she had disappointed him. Now, she had control over Vincent’s work. She dedicated herself to promoting his art, getting it exhibited, and selling it. Part of the estate also had to be preserved for her son Vincent.
Jo had met Vincent after the birth of her child Vincent, after he left the asylum. The artist brought the beautiful painting of almond blossoms for the nursery. It stayed in the family.
It was Jo who translated Vincent’s letters into English and sought their publication. It was Jo who saw the first of Vincent’s work go into museums. This month I will see the Van Gogh in America exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Art, which in 1922 was the first museum in America to purchase a Van Gogh.
The author dismisses that Vincent feared that marriage would removed his brother’s financial and emotional support. In a letter, Theo told Jo that his brother “kept urging me to try to marry you.”
The book is filled with details of the provenance of Vincent’s work that art history scholars will appreciate.
I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
October 9, 2022
An exceptional monument to an extraordinary woman. I can't wait to read the English edition as well!
February 23, 2023
If I wasn't a devoted fan of Vincent van Gogh and interested in reading everything related to him, I would not have read this badly written book. Luijten is an expert on Van Gogh. That's fine. But for some reason he felt compelled to include every single miniscule factoid he found during his many years of wandering in the Van Gogh desert. Many sentences make no sense. He often starts out with a statement and then goes to something that not only doesn't support it, but doesn't even seem related to it. There is much that is not translated. These are usually names of institutions or books or lectures, or whatever, but it leaves you at a loss if you are actually trying to follow all of the infinite number of things he tries to tell you. It's a laundry list of facts. And yet there are some facts that would make the story of Jo and what she did for Vincent more understandable. Facts he manages to leave out.
Basically the book is about what Jo did to get Vincent's work known, and how shrewd she was in getting his work appreciated and the prices of his work to reflect that appreciation. So of course there is much talk about what paintings went on exhibit where, what sold for how much, etc. (she also translated and arranged for publications of his letters to Theo). But sometimes you are told the prices (over a span of thirty years) in Dutch currency, sometimes in French, German, American dollars, etc. Never does he work from a base so that if a painting sold for francs, you could be given a clue as to what that would be in guilders, and never are prices from different eras translated to current values.
More important to me was trying to get the paintings straight. He sometimes changed the titles of the same paintings. One glaring example of what was left out, in a book that told you countless items of trivia, was the case of the Sunflowers. Vincent painted seven canvases of sunflowers in a vase (the same vase) while he was in Arles. One of those was of three flowers, another was of six flowers. Neither of those are among the ones that became famous. Of the rest -- the famous ones, the iconic ones that everyone knows are by Vicent -- there are two of fourteen flowers and three of fifteen flowers. Two of those five paintings are originals, that is, Vincent painted them while looking at actual flowers. The other three, considered copies, he painted later, either from memory or looking at those first two paintings. Two of those copies are signed, one is unsigned. It is those two originals that are valued the highest. One has a blue background and the other yellow -- yellow sunflowers on a yellow background and yet the whole thing comes to life.
So back to Luijten. He never explains anything about how many paintings of sunflowers there were. What got sold when. Which ones Jo owned. She sold one to the National Gallery. If you don't know which one, you'd have to look it up because with all his warehouse of knowledge, Luijten isn't going to tell you.
Jo van Gogh-Bonger was an incredible woman who worked tirelessly and effectively (in a man's world) for over three decades to bring her husband's wish to fruition -- that of bringing Vincent the fame and admiration he deserved. She deserves better.
Basically the book is about what Jo did to get Vincent's work known, and how shrewd she was in getting his work appreciated and the prices of his work to reflect that appreciation. So of course there is much talk about what paintings went on exhibit where, what sold for how much, etc. (she also translated and arranged for publications of his letters to Theo). But sometimes you are told the prices (over a span of thirty years) in Dutch currency, sometimes in French, German, American dollars, etc. Never does he work from a base so that if a painting sold for francs, you could be given a clue as to what that would be in guilders, and never are prices from different eras translated to current values.
More important to me was trying to get the paintings straight. He sometimes changed the titles of the same paintings. One glaring example of what was left out, in a book that told you countless items of trivia, was the case of the Sunflowers. Vincent painted seven canvases of sunflowers in a vase (the same vase) while he was in Arles. One of those was of three flowers, another was of six flowers. Neither of those are among the ones that became famous. Of the rest -- the famous ones, the iconic ones that everyone knows are by Vicent -- there are two of fourteen flowers and three of fifteen flowers. Two of those five paintings are originals, that is, Vincent painted them while looking at actual flowers. The other three, considered copies, he painted later, either from memory or looking at those first two paintings. Two of those copies are signed, one is unsigned. It is those two originals that are valued the highest. One has a blue background and the other yellow -- yellow sunflowers on a yellow background and yet the whole thing comes to life.
So back to Luijten. He never explains anything about how many paintings of sunflowers there were. What got sold when. Which ones Jo owned. She sold one to the National Gallery. If you don't know which one, you'd have to look it up because with all his warehouse of knowledge, Luijten isn't going to tell you.
Jo van Gogh-Bonger was an incredible woman who worked tirelessly and effectively (in a man's world) for over three decades to bring her husband's wish to fruition -- that of bringing Vincent the fame and admiration he deserved. She deserves better.
July 28, 2025
A scholarly and well researched biography; sometimes too scholarly with details of street names, exhibition dates, long Dutch names of magazines, associations, organizations. There's no denying this was an extraordinary woman though, even though she didn't think of herself that way.
October 11, 2022
I was very interested to read this book when I saw the cover and description.
This book is chock full of information on the life of Vincent Van Gogh’s sister in law, Jo. I have been obsessed with Vincent my whole life. Even named my cat after him!
My issues with this book are that it is such heavy, dry writing that it feels like a chore/homework to read it. I found myself skipping through pages to see the pictures. The book is also 500+ pages. A daunting task for most readers and even more so with the nature of the reading.
And as an ARC, it’s very hard to read the writing with the watermark going over every page.
I think this is a book for someone who is in a historical background and maybe writing a thesis or movie on Jo. Not someone who is interested in learning a little bit more.
This book is chock full of information on the life of Vincent Van Gogh’s sister in law, Jo. I have been obsessed with Vincent my whole life. Even named my cat after him!
My issues with this book are that it is such heavy, dry writing that it feels like a chore/homework to read it. I found myself skipping through pages to see the pictures. The book is also 500+ pages. A daunting task for most readers and even more so with the nature of the reading.
And as an ARC, it’s very hard to read the writing with the watermark going over every page.
I think this is a book for someone who is in a historical background and maybe writing a thesis or movie on Jo. Not someone who is interested in learning a little bit more.
March 20, 2024
It was very dry considering the exciting life she led. Also many questions were unanswered. how did she get the reputation that she was resentful of the financial support Theo gave to Vincent and was it warranted? What obstacles did she face and how did she overcome them? Were the obstacles legal, cultural or interpersonal? How was she able to generate interest in Van Gogh’s art? The book lists exhibits, prices, people but little beyond lists, and quotes. How did Jo reconcile her politics with the wealth fueled art world. How did her feelings for the artwork change or did it not as time went on? She lived through the belle epoch, a world war, the depression and the rise of nazism. How did these events impact her?
January 15, 2023
Only a week ago I was looking at a lighter kind of art history/appreciation book, that wanted to discover what exactly made a masterpiece – including input from the artist, the subject and the audience response (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). It of course managed to feature a van Gogh. But what it didn't really nail down was that one reason we feature the man in any – ANY – list of master painters of our civilisation, is partly down to his sister-in-law, born Jo Bonger. She was marrying Theo at just the time Vincent, more or less at the peak of his powers, was being more self-harming, and career-damaging, and needing more personal care and attention due to his mental deficiencies. And then lo and behold, months after he dies, Theo goes doolally himself, and Jo is a single mother and widow, and in possession of hundreds of works of art, both in her inheritance and in the estate she's looking after on behalf of Vincent junior, her baby. This shows how diligently, how inexpertly but how doggedly she worked in the light of loving Vincent's talent and in the light of loving Vincent's brother, that she went no end towards making him the world famous name he is.
That narrative may well be all anyone needs to know about things. Some may want more. Some however will hate the fact we here have 500pp more – albeit a huge third is notes, index and so on. But this does seem too forensic and definitive a book for many a taste, and it's no surprise to see the original Dutch edition, from 2019 already, was on behalf of the van Gogh Museum. Either way, this is a must for many a shelf for people who might not realise why the subject deserves their appreciation.
Here is everything to do with the woman – her politics, her growth into understanding of art, first from her patronising sibling and then from the van Goghs and then from sheer necessity. She spoke several languages, so spent many a long evening translating the letters Vincent had sent Theo and trying to get them published, which ran in parallel with considered loans and rare sales to make sure the market value and estimation of the artist went up and up. And yet even now the industry of van Gogh is probably something she would never recognise – except it has to be said that she was the bedrock of it all.
This is very readable for such a rich, detailed book, and there is no earthly way anything better will come to the world in the short time before the centenary of her death, in 2025, and it's doubtful this will be surpassed at all. A lesser creator would make this really quite repetitive – "she wrote this, she sold this, she loaned this" – but this is a lot more enjoyable than the dogged woman's efforts might lead you to believe. Very well produced (even if my review copy didn't come with the Plates sections), it might just leave you wanting to read more about the son she was so intent on catering for, as well. If the author fancies tackling that subject as a sequel and comes out with anything close to this, it will make for a remarkable achievement. Four and a half stars.
That narrative may well be all anyone needs to know about things. Some may want more. Some however will hate the fact we here have 500pp more – albeit a huge third is notes, index and so on. But this does seem too forensic and definitive a book for many a taste, and it's no surprise to see the original Dutch edition, from 2019 already, was on behalf of the van Gogh Museum. Either way, this is a must for many a shelf for people who might not realise why the subject deserves their appreciation.
Here is everything to do with the woman – her politics, her growth into understanding of art, first from her patronising sibling and then from the van Goghs and then from sheer necessity. She spoke several languages, so spent many a long evening translating the letters Vincent had sent Theo and trying to get them published, which ran in parallel with considered loans and rare sales to make sure the market value and estimation of the artist went up and up. And yet even now the industry of van Gogh is probably something she would never recognise – except it has to be said that she was the bedrock of it all.
This is very readable for such a rich, detailed book, and there is no earthly way anything better will come to the world in the short time before the centenary of her death, in 2025, and it's doubtful this will be surpassed at all. A lesser creator would make this really quite repetitive – "she wrote this, she sold this, she loaned this" – but this is a lot more enjoyable than the dogged woman's efforts might lead you to believe. Very well produced (even if my review copy didn't come with the Plates sections), it might just leave you wanting to read more about the son she was so intent on catering for, as well. If the author fancies tackling that subject as a sequel and comes out with anything close to this, it will make for a remarkable achievement. Four and a half stars.
June 2, 2020
Perfect in het beschrijven van de inspanningen van Jo van Gogh-Bonger voor de bekendheid van Van Gogh. Haar leven zelf komt er, met name in de laatste honderd pagina's, wat bekaaider van af. Eerst trekt het leven van Jo van Gogh-Bonger je belangstelling en vervolgens het steeds grotere succes van Vincent van Gogh. Als het succes zo rond 1915 eenmaal groot is, wijkt de spanning; de laatste hoofdstukken vond ik niet zo boeiend meer. De kracht van Hans Luijten ligt met name in het beschrijven van Jo van Gogh-Bongers inzet voor Vincent van Gogh. Haar persoonlijke leven is niet altijd tot in detail overtuigend beschreven. Soms laat hij ook dingen liggen, zoals de vraag waarom Jo van Gogh geen kinderen kreeg bij Johan Cohen Gosschalk.
July 4, 2023
DNF
I think that this is one of the most boring books that I have read. Sadly, I think that Jo van Gogh-Bonger was a strong, astute woman and this book could have really highlighted that as well as her struggle to get Vincent van Gogh’s work taken seriously. Hans Luitjen has given us, in minute detail Jo van Gogh-Bonger's life. Therein lies the problem, there is so much detail about: the addresses of cafes in Paris where Jo and Theo dined; the addresses of art galleries; the issues with transporting Vincent’s artwork; and so it goes on. With all this detail, poor Jo got lost and yet she deserved so much better than this.
A real disappointment, especially for fans of Vincent and his artwork.
I think that this is one of the most boring books that I have read. Sadly, I think that Jo van Gogh-Bonger was a strong, astute woman and this book could have really highlighted that as well as her struggle to get Vincent van Gogh’s work taken seriously. Hans Luitjen has given us, in minute detail Jo van Gogh-Bonger's life. Therein lies the problem, there is so much detail about: the addresses of cafes in Paris where Jo and Theo dined; the addresses of art galleries; the issues with transporting Vincent’s artwork; and so it goes on. With all this detail, poor Jo got lost and yet she deserved so much better than this.
A real disappointment, especially for fans of Vincent and his artwork.
May 1, 2022
Interessant, informatief en prettig leesbaar boek over de vrouw (van theo van gogh, broer van Vincent van gogh) die er alles aan deed om het werk van Vincent bekend te maken. Dat ging niet vanzelf. Daar kun je je nu niets bij voorstellen. De schrijver heeft allerlei bronnen gebruikt om dit boek te schrijven. Leuk detail vond ik dat jo van gogh-bonger bevriend was met Emilie Knappert in Leiden en dat ze samen rond de vorige eeuwwisseling een tentoonstelling hebben georganiseerd in het Leids Volkshuis. Ze vonden het allebei belangrijk dat "het gewone volk" in aanraking kwam met kunst.
May 16, 2023
This book is heavy both in content and physically. It's essentially a textbook about Jo van Gogh-Bonger's life. I'm going to put a pin in this and say it is the definitive book on her life. If you are just curious about her, this isn't the book for you. It is extremely well-researched and doesn't miss a crumb since before Jo was born. Heavy, heavy on the details and minutia, whether you need it or not. There's over 100 pages of footnotes and references at the end. You have to remember this is a biography of Jo and not Vincent.
March 25, 2023
If you're looking for a light read, this isn't it!
Not only because of the MANY pages and COUNTLESS details.
And not only because there's an abundance of side research, looking up paintings you've never heard of or translating the different languages.
But because you get an upper body workout just holding this huge & heavy book!
I enjoyed this story very much but my advice is to consider it like taking a school course. Also I recommend reading it at a desk with a computer nearby.
Not only because of the MANY pages and COUNTLESS details.
And not only because there's an abundance of side research, looking up paintings you've never heard of or translating the different languages.
But because you get an upper body workout just holding this huge & heavy book!
I enjoyed this story very much but my advice is to consider it like taking a school course. Also I recommend reading it at a desk with a computer nearby.
January 18, 2023
I've read so many accounts from almost everyone in Vincent's life, from his brother, biographers, fellow artists etc. They are all a little bias in some direction, including this one. It's still a wonderful read, about a very dedicated, hard working woman. I enjoyed it.
April 13, 2025
Prachtige biografie Jo, de schoonzus van Vincent van Gogh. Zij was de vrouw van zijn broer Theo.(samen liggen de broers begraven in Auvers- sur- oise). Dankzij haar werd zijn werk wereldberoemd en samen met haar zoon Vincent kun je het Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam bezoeken. Aanrader.
March 3, 2022
She is beautiful the way she is and wears her jewels.
February 19, 2023
Very interesting how VVG sister in law is the the sole reason he found success. Lots of details and photos!
March 11, 2023
A very well written narrative on the life of Jo Van Gogh-Bonger. The author gives invaluable insight on her life, the life of Vincent and Theo and her son Theo.
December 19, 2025
Truly inspiring and exceptional woman!
November 2, 2022
This book on Jo van Gogh-Bonger is a tribute to her as an astute woman who dedicated most of her life to promoting the work of Vincent van Gogh. Her independent spirit gave her the fortitude to do her life's work.
The book covers her early years, her life with Theo, and Vincent's influence on their marriage and her life. It covered the period when she was a single parent to the young Vincent and her tireless work to serve her family and the Art world. Her difficult marriage to her second husband Johan in the second half of her life and her trips to Spain, England, and New York. The dedication with which Jo pursued promoting Vincent's work defies imagination. She worked tirelessly even at the end of her life when she was ill. The book reflects her meticulous note and record-keeping of all the works of art and her efforts in promoting them and sending them to exhibitions. Jo had exceptional business acumen for a woman living in that era and had strong negotiation skills with galleries, art dealers, publishers, and others.
This book would be an excellent reference for those interested in the life and work of this remarkable woman, who made it possible for us to get to know Vincent van Gogh, the artist. It is also a window into what life in Europe and the art world was like during her lifetime. It also gives an insight into the energy required to promote an artist, noticed by the big galleries, and the value of detailed record keeping, which gave Jo a more robust negotiating platform.
The book covers her early years, her life with Theo, and Vincent's influence on their marriage and her life. It covered the period when she was a single parent to the young Vincent and her tireless work to serve her family and the Art world. Her difficult marriage to her second husband Johan in the second half of her life and her trips to Spain, England, and New York. The dedication with which Jo pursued promoting Vincent's work defies imagination. She worked tirelessly even at the end of her life when she was ill. The book reflects her meticulous note and record-keeping of all the works of art and her efforts in promoting them and sending them to exhibitions. Jo had exceptional business acumen for a woman living in that era and had strong negotiation skills with galleries, art dealers, publishers, and others.
This book would be an excellent reference for those interested in the life and work of this remarkable woman, who made it possible for us to get to know Vincent van Gogh, the artist. It is also a window into what life in Europe and the art world was like during her lifetime. It also gives an insight into the energy required to promote an artist, noticed by the big galleries, and the value of detailed record keeping, which gave Jo a more robust negotiating platform.
July 7, 2024
I've read this book because of my work as a museum professional. Otherwise I would have probably leave it unfinished. It's a long list of facts and data, quite boring and you get lost in them.
September 20, 2022
Jo van Gogh-Bonger by Hans Luijten is an excellent biography of this phenomenal woman as well as a nice look at how Vincent van Gogh's legacy was created and nurtured.
I have been very lucky the past few days to be reading two excellent biographies. While I usually enjoy learning about the figures, I am often less than impressed with biographies as pleasurable reading experiences. These have been both very informative and tremendously enjoyable. The other, by the way, is A Mystery of Mysteries by Mark Dawidziak.
Many people with an interest in van Gogh's art knows how import both his brother and his sister-in-law were in his ability to paint and in his reputation. What many of us didn't know was just how much effort Jo put into it and, even more hidden, just how remarkable she was. This volume corrects those omissions and does so with an eye toward celebrating her life and work.
I will second another review I saw that mentioned how wonderful the van Gogh Museum is. To think that it not only wouldn't exist, but we might also never have heard of Vincent, if not for Jo.
While I would obviously recommend this to art history buffs as well as van Gogh afficionados in particular, I think anyone who simply loves a good biography will enjoy this book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I have been very lucky the past few days to be reading two excellent biographies. While I usually enjoy learning about the figures, I am often less than impressed with biographies as pleasurable reading experiences. These have been both very informative and tremendously enjoyable. The other, by the way, is A Mystery of Mysteries by Mark Dawidziak.
Many people with an interest in van Gogh's art knows how import both his brother and his sister-in-law were in his ability to paint and in his reputation. What many of us didn't know was just how much effort Jo put into it and, even more hidden, just how remarkable she was. This volume corrects those omissions and does so with an eye toward celebrating her life and work.
I will second another review I saw that mentioned how wonderful the van Gogh Museum is. To think that it not only wouldn't exist, but we might also never have heard of Vincent, if not for Jo.
While I would obviously recommend this to art history buffs as well as van Gogh afficionados in particular, I think anyone who simply loves a good biography will enjoy this book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
September 28, 2022
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
Jo Bonger is fascinating in terms of art history. The wife of Theo van Gogh, she also knew his brother Vincent, who was at the time a little known artist. When tragedy struck and Vincent and Theo died within a year of each other, Jo was left with a small child and a collection of Vincent's work. Jo would go on to make it her mission to introduce Vincent's work to the world, and it is largely due to her efforts that he is as famous as he is. Little is really discussed about her in biographies about the van Goghs, beyond her relationship with the men and her later work to get Vincent's art recognized. This book, clearly written by an expert with a good understanding of Jo and her life, offers a much more comprehensive look at Jo as a person, separate from her famous relations. I thought the book was good, with a lot of good information and great photos, but it did read like an academic paper or thesis, so it was often hard to get through. Writing style aside, this is a great book for anyone looking to learn more about Jo and her life.
Jo Bonger is fascinating in terms of art history. The wife of Theo van Gogh, she also knew his brother Vincent, who was at the time a little known artist. When tragedy struck and Vincent and Theo died within a year of each other, Jo was left with a small child and a collection of Vincent's work. Jo would go on to make it her mission to introduce Vincent's work to the world, and it is largely due to her efforts that he is as famous as he is. Little is really discussed about her in biographies about the van Goghs, beyond her relationship with the men and her later work to get Vincent's art recognized. This book, clearly written by an expert with a good understanding of Jo and her life, offers a much more comprehensive look at Jo as a person, separate from her famous relations. I thought the book was good, with a lot of good information and great photos, but it did read like an academic paper or thesis, so it was often hard to get through. Writing style aside, this is a great book for anyone looking to learn more about Jo and her life.
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