Van Gogh: His Life And His Art [Hardcover]

David Sweetman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 1990

Published on the centenary of his death, this is the first comprehensive biography of Vincent Van Gogh in over 25 years. It glows with new information. The author wanted his book to shed new light on his subject, and it does.

We learn much of Van Gogh's early years: his conflict about becoming an artist, his strong spiritual beliefs and the failed love affairs that deepened his depression and despair.

"A lucid, balanced biography. Sweetman's understated study makes the artist's story and hard-won genius particularly moving." (Kirkus Reviews)

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sweetman's engrossing biography releases us from a narrow view of Van Gogh's life. Whatever the exact nature of the painter's mental illness, "the works themselves are gloriously, happily 'sane,' " observes this British journalist who reports on the art scene. While many would force Van Gogh into the role of modern artist/rebel/martyr (overlooking his fidelity to the inspiration he derived from such artists as Jules Breton and Ernest Meissonier), Sweetman avoids this trap. His shrewd judgments of the paintings are anchored in the events of Van Gogh's life and in art scholarship of the last 20 years. The story he tells may be familiar, nevertheless, he delves into the sources to flesh out major and minor episodes at every stage of Van Gogh's erratic trajectory. The result is an intimate, often surprising portrait of an obscure suicide who posthumously achieved his most fervent desire--to make art for ordinary people. Sketches, graphics and color reproductions are interspersed with the narrative.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Recent record-breaking auction prices for van Gogh paintings have further increased attention on this artist, whose life and art have achieved mythic proportions in the public mind. Sweetman's revisionist biography successfully brings objectivity and reason to the popular view of Vincent, the mad artist. Based primarily on the correspondence of Vincent, his brother Theo, and his friends, but also incorporating recent scholarly findings and social history, the book places the artist solidly within the context of his family and his time. Although mystery will probably always surround some of Vincent's actions and his mood swings from fanaticism to depression and back again, this book goes far in its attempt to understand the motivations behind Vincent's search for a career and then for his own artistic style. This should prove to be a popular biography that most libraries will want to acquire. See also the review of Jan Hulsker's Vincent and Theo van Gogh , p. 93.--Ed.
- Lynell A. Morr, John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Lib., Sarasota, Fla.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Crown; 1st Ed. edition (July 14, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517574063
• ISBN-13: 978-0517574065
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #719,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful and fascinating, March 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Van Gogh: His Life and His Art (Paperback)

I read just about every biography of Vincent van Gogh I can get my hands on, and this is by far one of if not the best I've ever come across. David Sweetman writes with a thoughful consideration to the life of Vincent beyond the popular label of a "mad genius" and delves into the soul of this brilliant man. Vincent was a generous, loving human being with such capacity for giving that he bewildered those around him, that he was mistaken as insane, and cast aside. Mr. Sweetman does not dwell uneccesarily on the events which biographers today are so captivated by-the ear thing, the Gauguin thing, etc. This was a man who tried to find his place in the world as a not just a painter, but hopefully a husband and father, as well. This book brings to light the devotion of Theo, and, after Vincent's and her husband's deaths, the devotion of Jo. The surprising friendship of Signac, and the not so surprising mental instability of the Dr. Gachet. It is a shame that this book is out print, because it is a fascinating read for not only lovers of Vincent, for readers of biographies in general. It is well worth the search.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a gem this book is, September 5, 2005

By 

Erik Johnson "Therapist, mediator" (Pacific Northwest, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Van Gogh: His Life And His Art (Hardcover)

Out of curiosity I started reading Van Gogh's abridged letters (Dear Theo) and got confused who the main characters were in his life. So I bought this biog on a whim . . . and couldn't put it down. I even cried at the end. Sweetman is a terrific writer. He helped me figure out not only the difference between "K" and "Cent" and "Sein" and the artists he hung with and the Doctors who attended him off and on throughout his tortured life, but Sweetman helped me make sense of impressionism and post impressionism, the "solon" system which made the independent galleries so radical (and necessary) and much more. Despite the inclusion of great photos of many of Van Gogh's drawings and paintings, like the letters, this book is best read if one has a picture collection close by so one knows what painting is being discussed. Interestingly, VVG chronicled his life in such detail that biographers like Sweetman can easily track his whereabouts for nearly all of his 37 years. Sweetman distills the 600+ letters in which VVG ruminated to his brother Theo about art, women, religion, poverty, color, what the grass looked like after a rain, etc etc etc. Great job, Sweetman! Thank you.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Glimpse into Vincent's Mind, September 7, 2001

By 

Sandy Frazier "Sandy Frazier" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Van Gogh: His Life And His Art (Audio Cassette)

I read this book several years ago and it taught me so much about art, life, love and passion that Sweetman's biography resonates in me still. Vincent is the most famous artist on the planet today and so much has been written about him. But David Sweetman really took the time to update so much information - just as he did in Gauguin's biography - that you learn so much more by reading this book. I recommend it to everyone who wants to understand about mental illness and all the stigma that goes with it. Vincent was very brave to rise above his pain and blessed the world with so much beauty and colour. This text refers to the hardcover book.