Illustrated Provence Letters of Van Gogh - 2nd Edition by Martin Bailey (Hardcover)

About the Book

Vincent van Gogh's letters are an exceptionally vivid and moving testimony to the artist's struggle to survive and work. They have always been widely read, but this book's combination of letters and illustrations gives an intimate insight into the painter's daily domestic life in Arles and Saint-Remy, his spiritual torment, and the process of artistic creation itself. Vincent tells his own story of his most creative period. The book includes important letters to Gauguin and his brother. The selection is richly illustrated throughout with his paintings, drawings, and facsimile letters, many of which contain revealing sketches of his work in progress. Dr Martin Bailey's introduction provides essential background information about Vincent's early life, setting the period in Provence in perspective. It deals in particular with Vincent's relationship with his family, especially his brother Theo, who was his closest companion and the recipient of most of his surviving letters from Provence. Biographical notes about him and all the other recipients are provided, as well as a guide for visitors to those places painted by Van Gogh.

Book Synopsis

'I cannot help that my pictures do not sell. Nevertheless, the time will come when people will see that they are worth more than the price of the paint ...' Vincent van GoghDiscover the moving story of Vincent van Gogh, with his artistic genius and emotional torment told through personal letters, sketches and paintings in this beautiful reissue of a previous bestseller.Vincent van Gogh's letters are a written testimony to the artist's struggle to survive and work. This fascinating book's combination of deeply personal letters alongside rough sketches and finished paintings gives an intimate insight into the painter's domestic life in Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, his spiritual torment and the creative process. The Illustrated Provence Letters of Van Gogh engages with the mind of the artist, reflecting his close bond with his brother and closest companion Theo, his relationship with fellow artists and friends, his ongoing struggle with mental illness, and his passion for art.

Martin Bailey's introduction provides essential background information about Vincent's early life, setting the period in Provence in perspective. Biographical notes about the recipients of Vincent's letters are provided as well as a guide for visitors to those places painted by Van Gogh.

About the Author

Martin Bailey is a leading Van Gogh specialist and investigative reporter for The Art Newspaper. He has curated several exhibitions, including Tate Britain's 2019 show Van Gogh and Britain. His most recent books are The Sunflowers are Mine: The Story of Van Gogh's Masterpiece; Studio of the South: Van Gogh in Provence; Starry Night: Van Gogh at the Asylum; and Living with Vincent van Gogh: The Homes & Landscapes that shaped the Artist.