Vincent's Books

"Vincent van Gogh’s letters are almost as wonderful as his paintings and in one of them he writes, 'I have a more or less irresistible passion for books.' Guzzoni traces that passion in the beautifully designed Vincent’s Books. If you need a gift for a book or art lover, this is it."

"Vincent’s Books is a beautiful publication that pays homage to the art of the book. It is carefully structured, poignantly designed, and includes full-color matte reproductions of journal pages and book covers. Reproductions of the editions Van Gogh read appear throughout and Guzzoni also includes pictures of the books open to the passages she discusses so you can view the print in its original publication. These pictures appear alongside Van Gogh’s paintings, drawings, or letters and are often accompanied by germane quotations. Readers can pause on passages dedicated to reflecting on the interplay between text and image, an experience akin to spending time with a rare edition in an archive or a treasured painting in a museum gallery. . . . Vincent’s Books will fascinate those interested in how a beloved painter drew from literary and print culture."

“Guzzoni’s book is charming, enlightening, and ever unpretentious. . . . Appositely illustrated—the color reproduction is notably rich and convincing."

"[A] detailed and beautifully written account of what the artist read—and how it influenced his art."

“Guzzoni tells us in much greater detail about all those books [Von Gogh] read, and when and why he did so. It also shows us the paintings in which books are a subject: his own paintings, and those by some of the painters to whom he was indebted. . . . Reading was a dogged, lifelong pursuit of a bare-knuckled authenticity of feeling, a peeling away of all pretense in pursuit of a directness and an honesty that immediately fed into how he saw the world.”

“Guzzoni’s research provides an incredibly refreshing take on one of history’s well-known artists, and presents even common knowledge with a discerning eye and an authentic voice. Vincent’s Books is a triumph for both Van Gogh fanatics and bookworms alike.”

"During this meandering journey through Holland, Paris, Provence, and beyond, Guzzoni reveals just how much Van Gogh’s favorite books and authors defined his life and art."

"[An] innovative approach to a biography based in a reliable source of primary information. Artists who are interested in imitating the positive elements of Van Gogh’s life, research and art will find much to be inspired and to learn from in these pages. And researchers who are contemplating the reasons for Van Gogh’s unique style, and those who have since followed his lead will find Guzzoni’s commentary useful."

"Vincent’s Books contains seven chapters, each reflecting a transformative moment in his personal and artistic journey from a black and white world toward an Ezekiel-like glimpse into the sometimes phantasmagorical wheel of color to which we’ve become accustomed in Van Gogh’s work—a journey into coal mines, the street life of Paris, the wide open landscapes of Arles, and even a side dalliance into the mystical simplicity of Japanese art."

"Guzzoni employs extensive research in her quest to unearth the literature that influenced not only his art, but every aspect of his life—from works of fiction to museum guides and artistic magazines. Accompanied by reproductions of his paintings, letters and the books that that he loved, it is a fascinating study of Van Gogh’s creative inspiration."

"From childhood through to the end of his life (and from deliberating a career as a pastor to his decision to become a painter), [Van Gogh and the Writers Who Inspired Him] examines the texts that Van Gogh treasured, by writers such as Shakespeare, Dickens, Zola and Maupassant."

In Vincent’s Books, Mariella Guzzoni aims "to map an artistic-intellectual journey through his favourites, in a continuous dialogue between his work as an artist and the key authors and illustrators that inspired him."

"...a fascinating introduction to a complex and wondrous creative life."

"[Vincent's Books] is a luminous joy to read and pore over. It is also a beautifully wrought artefact in itself, which you finish wanting both to read more deeply and widely and to look at Van Gogh’s works with fresh eyes."

"Vincent's Books is one of the best written and most expertly researched books about Van Gogh that I've read in years. Guzzoni does a masterful job. . . . Vincent's Books provides wonderful insights into this profound and complex relationship between painter and writer."

"Should appeal to readers and viewers on many levels... the volume's contributions [include] the thoughtful blending of words with relevant images relating to Van Gogh's reading and focus on readers."