eleana's review against another edition
4.0
First two chapters are a bit confusing. There seem to be no dates almost at all in these chapters and dates of paintings accompanying the words range widely and don't seem to necessarily belong with the rest of what's being said.
However, later chapters are much more coherent and well written with good use of quotes from the artist through out the book.
However, later chapters are much more coherent and well written with good use of quotes from the artist through out the book.
showmethemonet's review against another edition
5.0
Art Reproductions: 5 Gloriously Detailed Stars
Coherence regarding van Gogh's Life:-3 Star Sadness
One buys this book for the coffee table, or to add to your art book collection for the sheer quality and quantity of the reproductions of Van Gogh's works. Having quite literally spent countless hours viewing so much of his work up close and in person in the museums containing the bulk of his works (like the Van Gogh Museum, Kröller-Müller Museum, D'Orsay, the MET, National Gallery of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago...) and also having touched many many art books, there are a surprising number of books in print out there that leave you wanting with regards to the common failure to truly capture a painting. I've got my own photographs luckily which do the works service, but that's still nothing to having an excellent book of reproductions for reference or enjoyment.
I can say this is one of the lightest, most affordable printed books available that vividly captures the depth and texture of his work (particularly from the last 2 years of his life where it's all texture all the time.)
The actual written content however, leaves much to be desired, and isn't recommended in any way as a biography due to its fractured timeline. A side-by-side translation of his letters to Theo would have been much preferred over what is included. The details of each painting are also inconveniently included in the rear of the book rather than alongside the actual reproduction but the book DOES make up for it with a world map of the locations of some of his key works (but even that is a bit lacking...)
Coherence regarding van Gogh's Life:-3 Star Sadness
One buys this book for the coffee table, or to add to your art book collection for the sheer quality and quantity of the reproductions of Van Gogh's works. Having quite literally spent countless hours viewing so much of his work up close and in person in the museums containing the bulk of his works (like the Van Gogh Museum, Kröller-Müller Museum, D'Orsay, the MET, National Gallery of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago...) and also having touched many many art books, there are a surprising number of books in print out there that leave you wanting with regards to the common failure to truly capture a painting. I've got my own photographs luckily which do the works service, but that's still nothing to having an excellent book of reproductions for reference or enjoyment.
I can say this is one of the lightest, most affordable printed books available that vividly captures the depth and texture of his work (particularly from the last 2 years of his life where it's all texture all the time.)
The actual written content however, leaves much to be desired, and isn't recommended in any way as a biography due to its fractured timeline. A side-by-side translation of his letters to Theo would have been much preferred over what is included. The details of each painting are also inconveniently included in the rear of the book rather than alongside the actual reproduction but the book DOES make up for it with a world map of the locations of some of his key works (but even that is a bit lacking...)
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