Customer Reviews

Vincent by Himself: A Selection of Van Gogh's Paintings and Drawings Together with Extracts from His Letters

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This one is WELL worth the money, and a MUST for anyone on your gift-giving list who loves art, the written word, and Vincent Van Gogh. The tender and compassionate nature of the artist for his brother, and vice-versa, as shown in the numerous letters that illustrate the pain of separation from family (pg. 59, To Theo), as well as the artist's keen knowledge and involvement with religion (pg. 179, top 3 paragraphs) and with the "common people" (pg. 33, last 3 paragraphs).

Although the letters in this book were penned over 100 years ago, they are completely up-to-date in the way they portray life. For the teenage reader who has a good grasp of our language and loves to read, I highly recommend this book. Why? Teenagers feel they are all alone in this world, that no one understands the way they feel, the things of which they dream, their desires and frustrations. Vincent's letters are on a total parallel with today's young person in search of him/herself.

Van Gogh's paintings, though so many were sadly, lost, show us all, without the shadow of a doubt, our human frailities and brevity, while at the same time giving us the great gift of showing us at work, and by doing so, putting the permanence of our efforts before us, to show us that what we do today WILL affect those who come tomorrow!

A glorious book, a book to pique consternation and curiosity, a tome to keep for a family heirloom.