Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South (Hardcover)

~ Douglas Druick (Author), Peter Kort Zegers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

To accompany the Art Institute of Chicago blockbuster van Gogh and Gauguin exhibit, here's a blockbuster book, with reproductions of such sensuous beauty that they are likely to convert even nonfans of the squabbling yet eternally linked pair. This book's subtitle is a translation of a phrase van Gogh used, more accurately rendered as "The Studio in Southern France," where van Gogh and Gauguin were in close contact, inspiring and antagonizing one another in a way that has fascinated generations of poets, playwrights, screenwriters and even art historians. The most famous van Gogh paintings, like Starry Night and Sunflowers, are put into context here, and there is room also for early, lesser-known works. Four major chapters "Origins," "Encounters," "South Versus North," "The Studio of the South" are followed by a chapter of letters exchanged by the two artists; a "coda" about Gauguin in the tropics, after van Gogh's famous ear-cutting incident broke up their partnership; and a technical appendix with results from lab investigations of canvas fibers and paint chemistry that help to date the works. In clear art historical prose, the painters' motivations are pointed out, such as van Gogh's portrait of Gauguin seen from behind: "In no other instance did Vincent decline to confront a sitter in this way." Two self-portraits, done simultaneously for a friend named Paul Laval, are cogently contrasted, with van Gogh's depiction of his own face showing "a scowl of concern and irritation, his green-eyed gaze skittish..." whereas Gauguin's view of himself shows "watchful, almost smug self-possession." This kind of lively character analysis, as well as art historical smarts, will make this a prestigious title for anyone even vaguely interested in modern French painting, but the 510 illustrations (over 300 in color) are the stars of the show here.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

For a brief two-month period, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin lived and worked together in southern France. What began in friendship ended in turmoil, propelling each artist further down his own creative path. Yet the subject of this book continues to reverberate. Druick (curator of prints, drawings, and European paintings) and Zegers (research curator), both with the Art Institute of Chicago, have spared no effort in producing a stunning companion to a major exhibition now at the institute and traveling to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam early next year. The Arles period is thoroughly examined chronologically, but the reading is not dull. Journals, letters, maps, and personal histories are interwoven compellingly, leaving the reader with a real feel for the artist's perceptions. Current, highly informative, and scholarly in scope yet accessible, this catalog exceeds blockbuster-style expectations. Some of the illustrations are small, but many useful comparisons and preliminary studies place the oeuvre of these two artists in a broader perspective. While it is difficult to recommend yet another book on Van Gogh and Gauguin, the high quality of the information here demands it. An essential purchase for art schools and public libraries. Susan Lense, Upper Arlington P.L., OH
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; illustrated edition edition (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500510547
• ISBN-13: 978-0500510544
• Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 10.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #572,524 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eldorado, January 14, 2002

By	Anatole Upart "anatoleupart" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

"Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South" is a great and rare achievement, since it captures the atmosphere of artists lives as no other book or film has done in the past, being magnificently precise in details and facts, yet sensitive to the personal aesthetic visions of Van Gogh and Gauguin. Armed with wonderful maps, charts, photographs and documents the authors explore the "geography" of artistic process and communication between two men. I kept going to the exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago, and back to consult the book: they acted as an artwork in time and space, yet an object on the table - all at once. This book has finally answered lots of questions, and most importantly - it has made two artists and their visions closer to us as never before.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful exploration of the Arles period, January 6, 2002

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

This review is from: Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South (Paperback)

Collaborative conservators and Art Institute of Chicago curators Douglas Druick and Peter Zegers have drawn upon the rich, scholarly literature, letters and writings, and new technical investigations focused on the artists Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, to present the most thorough, comprehensive, and insightful exploration of the Arles period to date. Landscapes and portraits painted in tandem by these two outstanding artists, their responses to each other, work together to envision vigorous dialogue occasioned by their strong personalities. Here presented for art students are fresh perspectives on Van Gogh and Gauguin's best-known works, as well as some of the more obscure aspects of their lives and their world. The informative, 424 page text is enhanced with 475 illustrations (300 of which are in full color). No personal, academic, or community library collection on the history of western art can be considered complete without the inclusion of Van Gogh And Gauguin: The Studio Of The South. This superb art history and analysis is also available in a hardcover format (Thames & Hudson, 0500510547, ...).