Van Gogh: The Life

By Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “The definitive biography for decades to come.”—Leo Jansen, curator, the Van Gogh Museum, and co-editor of Vincent van Gogh: The Complete Letters

Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, who galvanized readers with their Pulitzer Prize–winning biography of Jackson Pollock, have written another tour de force—an exquisitely detailed, compellingly readable portrait of Vincent van Gogh. Working with the full cooperation of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Naifeh and Smith have accessed a wealth of previously untapped materials to bring a crucial understanding to the larger-than-life mythology of this great artist: his early struggles to find his place in the world; his intense relationship with his brother Theo; and his move to Provence, where he painted some of the best-loved works in Western art. The authors also shed new light on many unexplored aspects of Van Gogh’s inner world: his erratic and tumultuous romantic life; his bouts of depression and mental illness; and the cloudy circumstances surrounding his death at the age of thirty-seven.
 
Though countless books have been written about Van Gogh, no serious, ambitious examination of his life has been attempted in more than seventy years. Naifeh and Smith have re-created Van Gogh’s life with an astounding vividness and psychological acuity that bring a completely new and sympathetic understanding to this unique artistic genius.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • The Washington Post • The Wall Street Journal • San Francisco Chronicle • NPR • The Economist • Newsday • BookReporter 

“In their magisterial new biography, Van Gogh: The Life, Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith provide a guided tour through the personal world and work of that Dutch painter, shining a bright light on the evolution of his art. . . . What [the authors] capture so powerfully is Van Gogh’s extraordinary will to learn, to persevere against the odds.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

“Brilliant . . . Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith are the big-game hunters of modern art history. . . . [Van Gogh] rushes along on a tide of research. . . . At once a model of scholarship and an emotive, pacy chunk of hagiography.”—Martin Herbert, The Daily Telegraph (London)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 18, 2011
• ISBN: 9781588360472

Steven Naifeh

STEVEN NAIFEH and GREGORY WHITE SMITH are both graduates of the Harvard Law School. They are the authors of 18 books, including Jackson Pollock: An American Saga, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1991 and was a finalist for the National Book Award. Jackson Pollock was the inspiration for the 2000 film starring Ed Harris and Marcia Gay Harden. In 1981, Naifeh and Smith also founded Best Lawyers, the leading attorney referral guide in the U.S. They subsequently created Best Doctors and Best Dentists. They have been profiled in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, People, and on CBS "60 Minutes."

Reviews for Van Gogh

[tower_bob · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Way too detailed. A really good editor would have halved the biography.

[michaelbartley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

a very informative biography of this artist. vincent was a failure at everything he attempted in his life. it appears that he had a form of epilepsy that affected his brain from normal functioning of course he also had syphilis. the interesting thing was at his first his greatest point of madness, cutting off his ear while living with Gauguin was the time his art became known to the art world. When Gauguin returned to Paris he of course told the story of that night. Gauguin was the raising star of the art world. a young art critic, Albert Aurier, heard the story and he became interested in Van Gogh. He then became his champion. Sad for van gogh it was too late. the book studies not only the creative process of the art world but also the money of that world

[drmaf-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic depth of research and meticulously written, unfortunately not a great read because its so damn depressing, Naifeh certainly accentuates the negatives in Van Gogh's life. Its a somber catalogue of Van Gogh's gradual alienation from his family, society and eventually life itself. Not denying that this certainly happened and his life was an unfolding tragedy, however, I would much rather see Van Gogh celebrated for his genius and his work. There's precious little of that here. My advice to Mr Naifeh and any other would-be biographer of this immortal artist would be "Lighten up, guys"

[hadriantheblind · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An astonishing and redefining portrait of a tormented and brilliant artist. Covers literally everything - family life and troubles, alienating personality, the books and painters he adored, everything.

Van Gogh does not come across as a too sympathetic person - his personality, ingratiating and tempestuous, has driven away all but a few of his most devoted friends and his brother. His early forays with jobs and art education are embarrassing to read. He is fragile, wracked with his desires and the epilepsy and depression which tormented him, but audacious, producing brilliant portraits within days. His output is astonishing. One wonders about the old adages about the costs of genius, and how van Gogh himself says "I put my heart and soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process."

The madness of genius. Despite everything, he is praised and immortalized.

Excellent choice of pictures accompany the text - the color reproductions are excellent, and you can see the clumps of paint from the individual brush strokes.

[pensivecat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Eight hundred pages to cover 37 years? You bet!There was a lot to draw from, since Vincent Van Gogh wrote many many letters, especially to his brother Theo. Inevitably, it becomes the story of both brothers, since they were so important to each other's existence. I can't imagine Vincent was a man who'd be easy to get along with, what with his constant bridge burning, but I really felt bad for him. Nothing went right for him in his life, and though eventually he was treated for mental illness, there was no true happiness for him, and certainly not the companionship that he so desired. Yet he is now one of the most beloved painters of all time. Every time I go into the Metropolitan Museum of Art, any time of day, the area containing his paintings draws the most people. But what a journey that led to this point!I most enjoyed reading the sections covering his early years, particularly his time in England, didn't like his Dutch period as much (his relationship with his parents was painful) and of course was most intrigued by his later (French) years.

[cakecop_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Around 1984, I read the 3 volumes of Van Gogh's letters. Then, around 1986, I bought Jan Hulskers Complete Paintings of Van Gogh. I re-read the letters while following each letter with the painting that Vincent completed. This was a wonderful experience. I was very aware of the details of Vincent's life. However, Vincent's letters are mostly to his brother Theo and I felt that Vincent was showing his best most industrious side to his brother. Theo supported Vincent with money and courage. Vincent's letters also included some to Emile Bernard which showed another side of Vincent's personality.I knew there was more to Van Gogh than the letters.This biography, by Naifeh and Smith opens up Vincent's character. There are some very disappointing events in Vincent's life. He was troubled, vitriolic, and a misfit. I have read many artists biographies and I think Vincent lived the most sad and tragic life of any artist I have studied. Van Gogh: The Life is a miraculous accomplishment and I congratulate the authors on the enormous effort that was expended to complete this book.An art history classic.