Biography of Van Gogh

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 2011, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam housing the worlds largest collection of Van Gogh paintings received a staggering total of 1.6 million visitors through its doors (The Van Gogh Museum).

That's not surprising. Is there anyone out there who doesn't know Vincent van Gogh and his paintings? He is undoubtedly one of history's most celebrated modern artists.

Vincent van Gogh lived at a time when the ethereal style of the 19th century Impressionist painters was de rigueur. Although he admired the Impressionists and studied their techniques, Van Gogh had a rebellious, avant-garde way of painting which put him at odds with the conventions of his day (Letters, Letter from Dr. Tralbaut).

There were other rebels like him. Post-Impressionist contemporaries such as Paul Gaugain, Emile Bernard, and Paul Cezanne were experimenting with bold colors and distorted forms. They tried to express certain moods in their painted works which Impressionism could not. The work of all these artists helped usher in the era of Modern art, broadening what future generations would accept as art (Heinich and Browne, The Glory of Van Gogh: An Anthropology of Admiration).

But more than a hundred years later, Van Gogh is the artist-rebel everyone thinks of first.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Frances Billano is a gourmet cook-for-hire and singer. She graduated from Ateneo de Manila University and worked for the Asian Institute of Management.

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

This Uncle Cent was a partner at Goupil & Cie, a leading French art dealership at the time. In keeping with family tradition, young Vincent began as a trainee at the companys office in The Hague in 1869. It was his first exposure to the European art industry. He got the chance to see works of artists from different countries up close. Four years later, the company was satisfied with his performance and assigned him to their London office.

At first, Vincent took pleasure in being an art dealer. He enjoyed going to work daily at the gallery on Southampton Street, and clients liked dealing with him (Bonger-Van Gogh, Memoir). He was earning enough to live comfortably in a boarding house in the suburbs, occasionally sending extra money home to his family. He was dandy enough to buy a top hat to wear (Letters, Reverend Van Gogh to Theo, 1873)...

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CHAPTER OUTLINE

Biography of Van Gogh

+ Vincent Van Gogh: Pilgrim, Painter, Prophet

+ The Minister’s Son

+ The Pilgrim Painter

+ His Life’s Canvas

+ ...and much more