Van Gogh's Letters: The Mind of the Artist in Paintings, Drawings, and Words, 1875-1890

It has taken me a week to carefully read this, and when I got to the end, I was disappointed: what no more? The sub title is 'the mind of the artist in paintings, drawings and works, 1875-1890.' The editor, translator, and publisher are to be congratulated: the selection for the letters - I did not want to read the full seven volume set, with the linking with both drawings and paintings, is low key, but sensitive, and the reproductions are excellent. I did have an initial question mark about an impression which marked the first few pages, but hopefully other 'new' editions, are not deemed sub-standard by the printers - I know it happens. Van Gogh's output in a very short space of time was phenomenal, and the letters in fact reveal the growing passion to depict what he saw. What is very interesting is how the early drawings - where he quite openly admits, he is learning to draw, begin to take on a new meaning when he starts to paint, some water colours which I found quite beautiful and somehow innocent, and then the surety with which colour is handled in an increasingly and idiosyncratically expressive way in the later oil paintings.What comes through the letters is a number of qualities, a spiritual insight into things which reminded me of Hopkins's concept of 'inscape'; a love of Nature; a humility as a human being - something I had also found in Pisarro's letters to his son; and a growing passion. The way his drawing developed from sketches to similitudes of later brush strokes I found very interesting. There is so much in the letters, that one cannot even begin to comment. I had the same experience last year reading the Journal of Delacroix - one of the painters of the Barbizon school he looked up to, and he does talk about other painters with increasing familiarity. Seeing how the drawings developed was a revelation, but also seeing that almond blossom and a starry sky at night, came from the same eye and the same hand, was part of the mystery that was, and doubtless will be for quite some time, Van Gogh. A super book.

This is book with only selected paragraphs/chunks from VVG's letters i.e these are very few and NON complete letters which were each cut short. I personally find it pathetic to cut the letters short, it seems to me that this is a gross attempt to match certain paragraphs of his letters with his most vulgarized works, so do not expect any insight into "The Mind of the Artist in Paintings".The best book of VVG's letters is probably :Vincent van Gogh - The LettersThe Complete Illustrated and Annotated EditionThere is also a website online on which all his letters can be found with corresponding illustrations :http://vangoghletters.org/vg/bookedition.htmlIf you want my opinion, try to get at least a book with a few letters BUT complete ones.

This is a book suitable for any art fan, not just fans of Vincent. A lot of people already know a lot about his letters to his brother, and there isn't really a lot more I want to add to this review, apart from this book prints the letters along with illustrations Vincent added to the letters, which is a nice touch. The printing of the book seems fine, and I can see the book giving any Vincent fans a lot of pleasure as they read this one.

Such a good read well worth it

Good quality pictures accompanying the letters. Provides a real insight into the thinking of a great artist.

very good all round

I'm very satisfied

Love looking at the pictures in this and being able to read the letters to get better night into Van Gogh.