Vincent van Goghrsquo;s life and work are so intertwined that it is hardly possible to observe one without thinking of the other. Van Gogh has indeed become the incarnation of the suffering; misunderstood martyr of modern art; the emblem of the artist as an outsider. An article; published in 1890; gave details about van Goghrsquo;s illness. The author of the article saw the painter as ldquo;a terrible and demented genius; often sublime; sometimes grotesque; always at the brink of the pathological.rdquo; Very little is known about Vincentrsquo;s childhood. At the age of eleven he had to leave ldquo;the human nestrdquo;; as he called it himself; for various boarding schools. The first portrait shows us van Gogh as an earnest nineteen year old. At that time he had already been at work for three years in The Hague and; later; in London in the gallery Goupil Co. In 1874 his love for Ursula Loyer ended in disaster and a year later he was transferred to Paris; against his will. After a particularly heated argument during Christmas holidays in 1881; his father; a pastor; ordered Vincent to leave. With this final break; he abandoned his family name and signed his canvases simply ldquo;Vincentrdquo;. He left for Paris and never returned to Holland. In Paris he came to know Paul Gauguin; whose paintings he greatly admired. The self-portrait was the main subject of Vincentrsquo;s work from 1886c88. In February 1888 Vincent left Paris for Arles and tried to persuade Gauguin to join him. The months of waiting for Gauguin were the most productive time in van Goghrsquo;s life. He wanted to show his friend as many pictures as possible and decorate the Yellow House. But Gauguin did not share his views on art and finally returned to Paris. On 7 January; 1889; fourteen days after his famous self-mutilation; Vincent left the hospital where he was convalescing. Although he hoped to recover from and to forget his madness; but he actually came back twice more in the same year. During his last stay in hospital; Vincent painted landscapes in which he recreated the world of his childhood. It is said that Vincent van Gogh shot himself in the side in a field but decided to return to the inn and went to bed. The landlord informed Dr Gachet and his brother Theo; who described the last moments of his life which ended on 29 July; 1890: ldquo;I wanted to die. While I was sitting next to him promising that we would try to heal him. [...]; he answered; lsquo;La tristesse durera toujours (The sadness will last forever).rsquo;rdquo;
2015-06-10 2015-06-10File Name: B00JPWTKAK
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Lively and Engaging IntroductionBy Matt WilsonThis book is a fine introduction to abstract expressionism. The text and the illustrations are lively and engaging; and they are well integrated with each other.Richard Klins text provides both an overview of the school and profiles of its leading artists. Some Id heard of; others I hadnt; either way; I now want to check out their art. What especially piqued my interest was the political and economic background and ramifications of abstract expressionism. Klin points out that a number of the artists were helped by the New Deal Federal Art Project when they were young and struggling. When they became established; they were taken up and promoted by the CIA as an ideological weapon during the Cold War. Now; some of their paintings sell for millions of dollars; and paintings derivative from them are ubiquitous. Abstract expressionism is thus a door into the world of art and capitalism.Lily Princes illustrations are excellent; conveying the feel of abstract expressionist art. I slowed down to look carefully at them.The book does what it should do: it teaches you; and makes you want to learn more. It would make a good book for a college course!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Highly recommended - whether you consider yourself a art connoisseur or notBy ScottIm a technical guy; but a visual one as well; and have spent the last 25 years of my life in the field of scientific imaging. What I like about that is the fact that I can look at an image and know; with absolute certainty; what I am looking at.Art; and abstract art in particular; isnt like that for me. I dont always know what Im looking at; and I doubt I will be able to any better after this book.BUT...What I will be able to do is better understand the context that the Abstract Expressionist paintings were created in; and I will also be able to better grasp how they make me feel when looking at them. Knowing; for example; the history of the government funded art projects; or the importance of opening a new focal point in NYC for the first time in art history is an important contextual reference; and with this; I hope to be able to immerse myself in their paintings. Not to categorize or define what Im looking at; because I wont be able to in many cases. But to feel the painting; and to understand why the artist wanted me to feel that way.So...if youre like me; and dont always get it when you see abstract art; or if youre not like me and you love it; but dont know the full history and context...this book will be of immense value. Written in a light; conversational tone; I enjoyed it from cover to cover. Well done!!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great dive into Abstract ExpressionismBy James A. CogginsGreat dive into Abstract Expressionism. Richard provides an illuminating explanation for the emergence of this art genre. He also offers a greater historical and cultural context that places this in a solid framework. I enjoyed the backdrop and anecdotes used to bring some detail and life to this subject. Love the illustrations too!
