Van Gogh

Full-color photographic reproductions of Van Gogh's famous paintings complement a text that examines the artist's tortured life and describes his childhood, poverty, mental illness, and relationship with his brother, Theo. 35,000 first printing.

Grade 12 Up-- The visuals in these books are brilliant. The objects have a clarity that lift them off the page and make them seem three dimensional. The color paintings glow, and the details of the brush strokes are vivid. The incisive snippets of text equal the graphics. Personal belongings and artists' tools are photographed sharply: eye glasses, correspondence, photographs of relatives, palettes, brushes, and easels. A few photographs of the landscapes are shown for comparison to the canvasses, which are documented in stages from initial sketches to completed works. Several works in each volume are analyzed by closeups of the individual strokes, discussions of organizing principles of the paintings, and a breakdown of the pigments applied. Knowledgeable art enthusiasts will relish the intimacy of the visuals and the lucid writing that lightly touches upon the critical aspects of the works. Novices will hopefully be smitten by these sparkling gems of insight and be inspired to read further. Perspective has the broadest range, documenting four centuries of the scientific study and interpretation of the subject. The 27 mini-chapters have the character of an erudite illustrated dictionary of exceptional focus. Each volume has a location of works on exhibit section. Impressive! --Barbara Peklo Abrahams, Oneida City Schools, Manlius, NY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This new series analyzes the works of three of the greatest, most influential artists of the impressionist and post-impressionist eras. Using the same format, each volume combines concise biographical material with brilliant color illustrations identified by detailed captions to convey the lifestyles, influences, creative output, and unique accomplishments of the three painters at various stages. Along with reproductions of their major works, these books offer striking images of the artists' palettes and tools; the objects they immortalized in their masterpieces; and preliminary sketches, photographs, and documents. Segments of certain paintings are enlarged to show brushstroke techniques and pigment combinations. A brief chronology, the locations of the works presented, and a glossary conclude each volume. Although titles abound on these highly popular artists, the rich illustrations, informative text, and reasonable price recommend the series for public libraries.
- Joan Levin, MLS, Chicago
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.