Gr 4—8—This book follows van Gogh from childhood through the development of his tumultuous artistic career, concluding with his untimely death. In tracing the events of the artist's life, the author explores his close relationship with his younger brother, Theo, through excerpts from their personal correspondence. Darker elements of van Gogh's life, such as alcoholism, mental illness, and suicide, are touched upon in a way that is honest but not gratuitous. Large, imaginative illustrations match the lyrical quality of the text, while bold brushstrokes, vivid color, and images of sunflowers subtly evoke the artist's style. Reproductions of van Gogh's paintings are deftly integrated into many of the illustrations, providing readers with a look at his artistic evolution. While a background in art history is not required for a basic understanding of this title, the casual name-dropping of van Gogh's artistic peers and oblique references to characteristics of Impressionism might be lost readers unfamiliar with the subject. Although the narrative is largely fact-based, thoughts and feelings are significantly fictionalized. Most notably, a recurring motif of the wind as a confidant and guiding force in the artist's life detracts from this title's appropriateness for school reports. Although beautifully written and illustrated, this title is an additional purchase for a limited audience.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA
This volume describes van Gogh's life journey, from preacher to ever-evolving artist. Lossani's text meanders along, with a personified wind speaking to Vincent as his guide. Special attention is paid to the turbulent but passionate relationship with his brother, Theo, and to the artist's perpetual suffering. Illustrations that integrate reproductions of famous works are appropriately rich in color, but they're overly--and bizarrely--stylized.
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