Ebook43 pages46 minutes
History's Greatest Artists: The Life and Legacy of Vincent van Gogh
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
()
About this ebook
*Includes pictures of 20 of van Gogh's most famous works, including an explanation of his techniques and influences.
*Includes pictures of van Gogh and excerpts of his letters to brother Theo.
*Explains the artistic influences and legacy of van Gogh's life and art.
*Discusses the mysteries and controversies surrounding van Gogh's mental illnesses and death.
*Includes a Bibliography for further reading.
*Includes a Table of Contents.
"A weaver who has to direct and to interweave a great many little threads has no time to philosophize about it, but rather he is so absorbed in his work that he doesn’t think but acts, and he feels how things must go more than he can explain it." – Vincent van Gogh, 1883
Vincent van Gogh is undoubtedly one of the most famous artists of all time, and though the critical establishment may not consider him the greatest artist who ever lived, there may be no artist with whom the public has a greater familiarity. Unfortunately, a great deal of that familiarity comes from the circumstances leading up to his death, and the manner in which they have been linked to his painting career. Of all the things that occurred in van Gogh’s tumultuous life and career, the best known thing about it might be that he cut off the lower left lobe of his ear, and much of the general public is familiar with his painting “Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear”. In 1882, Vincent would hauntingly and somewhat prophetically write to his brother Theo, “What am I in the eyes of most people — a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person — somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then — even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart.”
Across much of the world, van Gogh’s body of work is so commonplace that virtually everyone is familiar with at least some element of his life. Reproductions of his paintings populate offices, calendars, t-shirts, and the like, and his paintings continue to have the potential to affect people. On the surface, it might appear as though van Gogh is a very familiar figure, and yet people have spent nearly 125 years wondering just what compelled him to harm himself, just how tortured he was mentally, and what kind of effects it had on his art. In addition to dying a premature (and still controversial) death, van Gogh was 27 before beginning his 10-year painting career, meaning he painted for a comparably short period of his life. Nevertheless, he produced an extraordinary amount of art, and much of the myth of van Gogh surrounds the fact that he painted over 800 paintings (and many more drawings and watercolors) in such a short time. Understandably, the sheer volume of work meant that many had an unfinished, primal quality that seems to be commensurate with the type of person who would paint 800 paintings (in addition to numerous drawing and studies) over 10 years, building to a feverish crescendo at the end of his life. On top of that, van Gogh also managed to find time to write nearly 900 letters during that same period. Given the way his art and life blend together, it’s no surprise that van Gogh and his work continue to deeply affect viewers to this day.
While van Gogh’s painting career is the period of greatest interest, it was in many ways a response to his upbringing and the events of his youth. History’s Greatest Artists: The Life and Legacy of Vincent Van Gogh examines van Gogh’s life before his career, a close analysis of his painting style and artistic themes, and his controversial death. Along with pictures of some of his most famous work, excerpts from his letters, a bibliography, and a Table of Contents, you will learn about one of history’s greatest painters like you never have before, in no time at all.
*Includes pictures of van Gogh and excerpts of his letters to brother Theo.
*Explains the artistic influences and legacy of van Gogh's life and art.
*Discusses the mysteries and controversies surrounding van Gogh's mental illnesses and death.
*Includes a Bibliography for further reading.
*Includes a Table of Contents.
"A weaver who has to direct and to interweave a great many little threads has no time to philosophize about it, but rather he is so absorbed in his work that he doesn’t think but acts, and he feels how things must go more than he can explain it." – Vincent van Gogh, 1883
Vincent van Gogh is undoubtedly one of the most famous artists of all time, and though the critical establishment may not consider him the greatest artist who ever lived, there may be no artist with whom the public has a greater familiarity. Unfortunately, a great deal of that familiarity comes from the circumstances leading up to his death, and the manner in which they have been linked to his painting career. Of all the things that occurred in van Gogh’s tumultuous life and career, the best known thing about it might be that he cut off the lower left lobe of his ear, and much of the general public is familiar with his painting “Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear”. In 1882, Vincent would hauntingly and somewhat prophetically write to his brother Theo, “What am I in the eyes of most people — a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person — somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then — even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart.”
Across much of the world, van Gogh’s body of work is so commonplace that virtually everyone is familiar with at least some element of his life. Reproductions of his paintings populate offices, calendars, t-shirts, and the like, and his paintings continue to have the potential to affect people. On the surface, it might appear as though van Gogh is a very familiar figure, and yet people have spent nearly 125 years wondering just what compelled him to harm himself, just how tortured he was mentally, and what kind of effects it had on his art. In addition to dying a premature (and still controversial) death, van Gogh was 27 before beginning his 10-year painting career, meaning he painted for a comparably short period of his life. Nevertheless, he produced an extraordinary amount of art, and much of the myth of van Gogh surrounds the fact that he painted over 800 paintings (and many more drawings and watercolors) in such a short time. Understandably, the sheer volume of work meant that many had an unfinished, primal quality that seems to be commensurate with the type of person who would paint 800 paintings (in addition to numerous drawing and studies) over 10 years, building to a feverish crescendo at the end of his life. On top of that, van Gogh also managed to find time to write nearly 900 letters during that same period. Given the way his art and life blend together, it’s no surprise that van Gogh and his work continue to deeply affect viewers to this day.
While van Gogh’s painting career is the period of greatest interest, it was in many ways a response to his upbringing and the events of his youth. History’s Greatest Artists: The Life and Legacy of Vincent Van Gogh examines van Gogh’s life before his career, a close analysis of his painting style and artistic themes, and his controversial death. Along with pictures of some of his most famous work, excerpts from his letters, a bibliography, and a Table of Contents, you will learn about one of history’s greatest painters like you never have before, in no time at all.
Read more from Charles River Editors
Religions of the World: The Religion of Ancient Mesopotamia Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5American Legends: The Salem Witch Trials Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Celtic Mythology and the Religion of the Ancient Celts Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Legends of Music: The Life and Legacy of Tupac Shakur Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to History's Greatest Artists
Related ebooks
Van Gogh A Self-Portrait: Letters Revealing His Life As a Painter Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVan Gogh Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Munch Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVan Gogh on Art and Artists: Letters to Emile Bernard Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Van Gogh and the Art of Living: The Gospel According to Vincent van Gogh Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVincent van Gogh by Vincent van Gogh - Volume 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLandscape of Life: Why Vincent van Gogh Is Not Dead Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Van Gogh File: The Myth and the Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVan Gogh’s Ghost Paintings: Art and Spirit in Gethsemane Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVincent van Gogh Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Top 5 Greatest Artists: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Vincent Van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Michelangelo Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5French Painting 120 illustrations Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Michelangelo: 240 Colour Plates Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mary Cassatt: Drawings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gustav Klimt Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Delphi Complete Paintings of Gustav Klimt (Illustrated) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Michelangelo and artworks Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Paul Gauguin, His Life and Art Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe 1-Hour Van Gogh Book: Complete Van Gogh Biography for Beginners Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnything but Still Lives: The Worlds of Edward Hopper Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClaude Monet Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Franz Marc: 121 Paintings and Drawings Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Delphi Complete Works of Michelangelo (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRaphael: Drawings Colour Plates Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Salvador Dalí Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEdgar Degas Paintings Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Masters of Art - John Constable Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Delphi Complete Works of John Singer Sargent (Illustrated) Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Artists and Musicians For You
Elvis and Me Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary of The War of Art: by Steven Pressfield | Includes Analysis Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Leonardo da Vinci Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Just Kids: A National Book Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Me: Elton John Official Autobiography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Woman in Me Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/550 Great Love Letters You Have To Read (Golden Deer Classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Love Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tommyland Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Daily Creativity Journal Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Not My Father's Son: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rememberings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Meaning of Mariah Carey Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5James Baldwin: A Biography Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bowie: An Illustrated Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Violinist of Auschwitz Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Outsider Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Long Hard Road Out of Hell Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni: 1968-1998 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gender Madness: One Man's Devastating Struggle with Woke Ideology and His Battle to Protect Children Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Slash Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5More Myself: A Journey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All the Way Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I Would Leave Me If I Could.: A Collection of Poetry Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Born to Run Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for History's Greatest Artists
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
History's Greatest Artists - Charles River Editors
Enjoying the preview?
Page 1 of 1