NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “The definitive biography for decades to come.”—Leo Jansen, curator, the Van Gogh Museum, and co-editor of Vincent van Gogh: The Complete LettersSteven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, who galvanized readers with their Pulitzer Prize–winning biography of Jackson Pollock, have written another tour de force—an exquisitely detailed, compellingly readable portrait of … exquisitely detailed, compellingly readable portrait of Vincent van Gogh. Working with the full cooperation of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Naifeh and Smith have accessed a wealth of previously untapped materials to bring a crucial understanding to the larger-than-life mythology of this great artist: his early struggles to find his place in the world; his intense relationship with his brother Theo; and his move to Provence, where he painted some of the best-loved works in Western art. The authors also shed new light on many unexplored aspects of Van Gogh’s inner world: his erratic and tumultuous romantic life; his bouts of depression and mental illness; and the cloudy circumstances surrounding his death at the age of thirty-seven.
Though countless books have been written about Van Gogh, no serious, ambitious examination of his life has been attempted in more than seventy years. Naifeh and Smith have re-created Van Gogh’s life with an astounding vividness and psychological acuity that bring a completely new and sympathetic understanding to this unique artistic genius.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • The Washington Post • The Wall Street Journal • San Francisco Chronicle • NPR • The Economist • Newsday • BookReporter
“In their magisterial new biography, Van Gogh: The Life, Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith provide a guided tour through the personal world and work of that Dutch painter, shining a bright light on the evolution of his art. . . . What [the authors] capture so powerfully is Van Gogh’s extraordinary will to learn, to persevere against the odds.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
“Brilliant . . . Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith are the big-game hunters of modern art history. . . . [Van Gogh] rushes along on a tide of research. . . . At once a model of scholarship and an emotive, pacy chunk of hagiography.”—Martin Herbert, The Daily Telegraph (London)
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This book is an incredible, detailed, and well researched account of the life of Vincent Van Gogh. It gives further insight and information far beyond what the letters to Theo alone can reveal. This book takes biography to a new level and gives insights into the person, the time in history in which he lived, and the geographical impact on Vincent …
The authors delve into the life of Van Gogh starting from when he was a young boy all the way to his death. Written from help from the Van Gogh museum and letters that were written between Vincent and his brother, Theo, they weave a story that few know about the life of this beloved artist. Readers get a look into his life both personal and …
You get too much book for your money. It went on and on and on. OK. I get it. He had a rough upbringing and by mid life he was nuts. Writer could have said that in half the words or less.
This was a very comprehensive biography of the life of Van Gogh. It dealt with his bipolar challenges, his difficulty in relationships, his lifelong financial dependency on his family, his unhealthy religious experiences, and of course, his art. It was a fascinating book, although for me, it was almost too long. I had trouble making it through …
Extensively researched and an entertaining read about one of the greatest but also tormented artist in modern art history.
Got a bit technically detailed in parts, but overall was informative and interesting. He was a troubled man!
I found it highly informative and interesting. I was, strangely enough, relieved, that the conclusion was murder, rather than suicide. As tragic as his death was, the theory of suicide had always been disquieting. It was good to know that despite his unhappiness, loneliness and illness, that he would have kept trying, instead of given up. I …
Very poorly written biography – constant repetition of exact sentences and quotes and really screwed up chronology. I notice there are multiple authors – it would appear no one edited their final production. Only redeeming benefit for me was an enhanced knowledge of the art world of the time period.
A very boring book. Not worth reading.
The author uses many excerpts from Vincent’s letter so after awhile his disorganized brain becomes difficult to relate to.
Fabulous book. Extremely detailed account of Van Gogh’s life. I finished with a deeper understanding of this tortured genius .
Long and very detailed but extremely interesting and informative on the life of Van Gogh,
very detailed
Detailed and insightful. Maybe a bit tooooo detailed for some.