Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum: Exploring the Artist's Inner World

Rating:
Summary: An informed and informative body of expert commentary
Review: Collaboratively compiled and collectively edited by Chris Stolwijk, Sjraar Van Heugten, Leo Jansen, and Andreas Bluhm, Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum: Exploring The Artist's Inner World is a 150th anniversary tribute celebration of Vincent Van Gogh's March 30th birthday. Inspired by "Vincent's Choice: The Musee Imaginaire of Van Gogh" (an impressive art exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), this 320-page coffee table artbook offers an informed and informative body of expert commentary in the form of ten essays on Van Gogh and the artists his masterpieces inspired. Enhanced with more than 300 images (including 196 plates in full color), as well as excerpts from letters by Vincent Van Gogh, Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum is a superbly presented, enthusiastically recommended contribution to personal, professional, academic Art History and Art Appreciation reference collections and supplemental reading lists. Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum would also make a perfect community library "Memorial Fund" acquisition selection.

Rating:
Summary: Insight on the mind of a master
Review: I picked this book up at the library, interested because Van Gogh is one of my favorite painters and intrigued by the title. I didn't expect that I would actually read it- just look at the pictures. I ended up doing both! It was fascinating to read about the influences behind Van Gogh's paintings and what motivated him to work so hard on his art. His objective was to make art that consoles, a striking idea. This is more than an impressive coffee table book- it's valuable insight on a genius's artistic theory for any artist or art appreciator.