Customer Reviews

In the Footsteps of Van Gogh (Penguin Studio Books)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a wonderful book about Van Gogh. The authors take you to the towns were Van Gogh lived and painted. The excerpts from correspondence between Vincent and Theo were a perfect touch. The book is interesting and easy to read. This is the second biography of an artist I have ever read in it's entirety, and as an avid reader of 3-4 books a week, it was great to enjoy learning about someone whose work I have been fascinated with. I was pleased with the pictures of the towns and landscapes where Vincent painted. The book does not dwell on Vincent's illness, but it does not shy away from his behavior and the effect his illness and his strong beliefs had on his life. After reading this book I have a better understanding of the artist's feelings when he painted.

I've always wanted to take a tour of the important places in Vincent Van Gogh's life and write a book about it. This book does that to some degree...it is written as a biography that highlights the locations where Van Gogh lived and worked and includes a short travel guide in the back. I would have preferred a travel guide/essay that focuses more on the places. For example, there's no map in this book! To me, that is a major oversight. The writing is not spectacular, and there are better biographies of Van Gogh out there, not to mention his letters. Still, I like the idea, and there are some nice photos and a few suggestions of places to go. I would have preferred a different structure to the book, with the travel information integrated into the book, and more emphasis on descriptions of specific places.

This is a great book about the many places where van Gogh lived and painted. Book is out of print but this copy was in new condition and shipper was prompt.

After owning the book for five years I find myself more and more wanting to retrace Van Gogh's footsteps and attempt to capture my own view of the world he saw. I don't even pretend to think I could evoke the same emotions that his work does. But this book has helped give me the inspiration.