Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum: Exploring the Artist's Inner World [Hardcover]

Chris Stolwijk (Author), Sjraar Van Heugten (Author), Leo Jansen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2003

This lush volume accompanies an important exhibition opening in February 2003 at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Vincent van Gogh. It brings together the paintings that inspired him--by such masters as Rembrandt and Rubens, Corot and Courbet, Monet and Gauguin--with dozens of his own works, creating an "imaginary museum" that reveals a fascinating dialogue between the artist and his art-historical predecessors. The book features 170 reproductions from the "imaginary museum" itself, most accompanied by fascinating related excerpts from the artist's correspondence.

Van Gogh is one of the most popular of artists. This book offers a new look at his work--from the artist's own point of view.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Stolwijk, Sjraar van Heugten, and Leo Jansen are Head of Research, Head of Collections, and Researcher, respectively at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810945762
• ISBN-13: 978-0810945760
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,144,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insight on the mind of a master, April 13, 2004

By 

Taylor (the suburban Midwestern wastelands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum: Exploring the Artist's Inner World (Hardcover)

I picked this book up at the library, interested because Van Gogh is one of my favorite painters and intrigued by the title. I didn't expect that I would actually read it- just look at the pictures. I ended up doing both! It was fascinating to read about the influences behind Van Gogh's paintings and what motivated him to work so hard on his art. His objective was to make art that consoles, a striking idea. This is more than an impressive coffee table book- it's valuable insight on a genius's artistic theory for any artist or art appreciator.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An informed and informative body of expert commentary, April 13, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum: Exploring the Artist's Inner World (Hardcover)

Collaboratively compiled and collectively edited by Chris Stolwijk, Sjraar Van Heugten, Leo Jansen, and Andreas Bluhm, Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum: Exploring The Artist's Inner World is a 150th anniversary tribute celebration of Vincent Van Gogh's March 30th birthday. Inspired by "Vincent's Choice: The Musee Imaginaire of Van Gogh" (an impressive art exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), this 320-page coffee table artbook offers an informed and informative body of expert commentary in the form of ten essays on Van Gogh and the artists his masterpieces inspired. Enhanced with more than 300 images (including 196 plates in full color), as well as excerpts from letters by Vincent Van Gogh, Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum is a superbly presented, enthusiastically recommended contribution to personal, professional, academic Art History and Art Appreciation reference collections and supplemental reading lists. Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum would also make a perfect community library "Memorial Fund" acquisition selection.