Soon, 1871, Vincent was sent to London where he quickly gained success as he became part of the team of the up-and-coming arm of the firm engaged in fashioning etchings and graphics based on paintings from a miscellany of sources. From that early beginning van Gogh went on to form affiliations, and to end as many as well. Always glum van Gogh descended to some of the deepest depths of despair, and always he studied and painted. Result of personal reverses, impediment, and deterioration were given free rein onto his canvas in notable strokes of colors and expression, unsurpassed to date by any other artist. Peasants and life lived close to the surroundings often controlled his works.

Unluckily many of van Gogh’s earlier works were lost when his mother and sister sold many of them and they were later burned or otherwise destroyed.

Today Vincent van Gogh is considered to be one of the paramount painters of the late nineteenth century. His images are among the most familiar and preferred over works of other artists. Van Gogh’s works are included in art collections and galleries the world over. Impoverished throughout his life, whenever a van Gogh painting becomes available at auction today they are sold for record breaking sums. Unceasingly strongly religious, the erudite artist was linguistically adroit and demonstrated much potential; sadly, almost every occurrence in his life, whether trade, association or living situation was fraught with calamity and unhappiness for him. Distressingly, the weighty gloom van Gogh experience

ative life-affirming works ever created by any artist. His individual long standing combat with his family is apparent in his work: if van Gogh signed his paintings, and he did not always do so, nonetheless when he did, it was just as Vincent because he continued at odds with his very-conservative, censorious, Dutch kinfolk.

Organization, light, palette, cadence, and ingenuity are all revealed in van Gogh's work with the frame of mind, outlook and changes of mood he experienced. Private obstructions were given vent to onto the canvas through glorious strokes filled with exposition, tone and manifestation, unrivaled to date by other artists.

Among the images showcased in this work is included 1882, The Prayer, today retained in a private collection features an aged man, head bowed, hands folded as he gives thanks for the loaf of fresh bread and the steaming bowl set on the table before him. His earlier works tend to murky, foreboding and powered with internal anguish.

1885 Still Life With Bible, today found in the Amsterdam, van Gogh Museum, displays an open Bible on the table. Even his 1886 portrayal of Vase With Daisies, also housed in the van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, while filled with color; blue, white, lavender and rose; is still pretty gloomy.

1886 Basket with Pansies on Table and Montmartre Quarry The Mills, Amsterdam van Gogh Museum, appear as works much lighter in tone, shade and feel. 1887 Flowerpot with Chives, displayed in the van Gogh Amsterdam Museum, is well-lit in tenor and forwards a touch of whimsy.

Complete with energy, essence, dynamism and hue are 1988 Encampment of Gypsies with Caravans, and 1888 The Red Vineyard. The former can be viewed Paris, musee d’Orsay, while the latter is shown in Puskin Museum, Moscow.

I have always loved the work of van Gogh, and it is hard to pick a love the best from amongst the many presented in this edition, however the 1888 The Old Mill , today exhibited in Buffalo, Albright-Knox Art Gallery does rate very high on my best list.

The mill stands on a knoll above an azure stream, a man and woman are seen in the foreground adjacent to the mill, fields and a house or two stand in the background. Colors are muted, but filled with dash, lighthearted and inviting.

Landscapes, seascapes, orchards, people, are all portrayed by van Gogh. And he painted boats, sail boats. 1888 Fishing Boats On the Beach at Saintes – Marie, exhibited in Amsterdam van Gogh Museum is amongst my favorites. Out in the bay are seen 4 wee, white sailed skiffs, while up on the sand is found a group of four in shades of crimson, emerald, and indigo, masts ready for the sails to be attached. Sky is azure, clouds speed overhead.

A second featuring boats also showcases small sail boats out in the bay, 1888, van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, The Seascape At Saintes – Marie is rich with blues, sky azure, filled with clouds, greens and blues mingle in the sea found at the lower 2/3s of the work. Waves, white capped with foam move toward shore.

More than a few self-portraits, as well as many well recognized, famous works, Lilacs, Sunflowers, are two included in this work; certainly, no volume regarding van Gogh could except them from the pages.

Meadows, commonplace things such as tables or chairs, a crab on his back, wooden clogs or the artist’s bedroom all served as models for painting. My little gardening, Iris loving heart has long found much to appreciate when viewing 1890 Daubigny’s Garden or, perhaps his most famous, or surely one of the most famous of his works 1890 Iris.

The garden scene gives me much pleasure, so often my own garden area seems as overgrown with grasses as I see in Daubigny’s Garden, and I grow Iris in all colors, all over my yard.

The Iris shown in a vase painted by van Gogh are shown in blues and purples. I enjoy my prints, the originals of these works are exhibited in van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

Cover art features Noon: Rest From Work, 1890, Paris, Musee d’Orsay as a husband and wife catnap against a shock of hay.

Van Gogh’s attention to detail is obvious in his individualization of strands of hay, the sickles the pair were using to cut the hay and the small hay wagon shown in the background. Clogs in the foreground are ready for slipping back on tired feet. I feel an association to my own Dutch forebears whenever I contemplate the landscapes and other renderings of Holland itself as produced by this talented Dutchman.

I found this book to be pleasing, packed with so many examples of the work of a gifted, beleaguered artist who lived in dismal poverty most of his life, achieved to produce works celebrated the world over and help us apprehend more of ourselves and others as we read about, see and regard the works. The author, journalist, book editor, writer, Sandra Forth is a well-educated woman.

She is also a graduate of London University where writer Forth studied medieval and early modern history, in addition to a period spent attending the Courtauld Institute where she learned more regarding Renaissance art. Forth has authored a number of books, many concerned with art and architecture

I found this book  packed with so many examples of the work of a gifted, beleaguered artis to be very pleasing. 

Happy to recommend this book for the personal library, school library, art lover and those who just would like to know a little more regarding this artist and his work.