Brief Happiness: The Correspondence of Theo Van Gogh and Jo Bonger (Cahier Vincent, No. 7.)

Rating:
Summary: New insights into Vincent van Gogh and his family
Review: In this volume the 101 existing letters between Vincent's brother, Theo van Gogh, and Theo's fiance, Johanna Bonger, are published for the first time in their entirity.

Through the letters the reader gains insights into a young Dutch couple in love in the late 19th century. The book not only presents intriguing and very personal insights about Vincent van Gogh, but is also a compelling and touching chronicle of two young people as they prepare for marriage and a life together. A life tragically brief, as the title suggests.

Much has been written about Vincent van Gogh, of course, but it's fascinating to read insights about how his own family and contemporaries perceived him. For example Theo wrote: "He is one of the most advanced painters and it is difficult to understand him, even for me who knows him so intimately. His ideas cover so much ground, examining what is humane and how one should look at the world, that one must first free oneself from anything remotely linked to convention to understand what he was trying to say, but I am sure he will be understood later on. It is just hard to say when."

A satisfying and very worthwhile exploration of three lives--forever interwoven.

Rating:
Summary: New insights into Vincent van Gogh and his family
Review: In this volume the 101 existing letters between Vincent's brother, Theo van Gogh, and Theo's fiance, Johanna Bonger, are published for the first time in their entirity.

Through the letters the reader gains insights into a young Dutch couple in love in the late 19th century. The book not only presents intriguing and very personal insights about Vincent van Gogh, but is also a compelling and touching chronicle of two young people as they prepare for marriage and a life together. A life tragically brief, as the title suggests.

Much has been written about Vincent van Gogh, of course, but it's fascinating to read insights about how his own family and contemporaries perceived him. For example Theo wrote: "He is one of the most advanced painters and it is difficult to understand him, even for me who knows him so intimately. His ideas cover so much ground, examining what is humane and how one should look at the world, that one must first free oneself from anything remotely linked to convention to understand what he was trying to say, but I am sure he will be understood later on. It is just hard to say when."

A satisfying and very worthwhile exploration of three lives--forever interwoven.

Rating:
Summary: Not Just for the Student of Art...
Review: What a wonderful book! Not just for the student of art... reading this correspondence could inspire us all. It is fresh, vivid and frank. And it is a reminder that before e-mail, we once wrote letters... before telephones, we once poured our hearts out on paper... before television, we exercised our brains and spent time building relationships.

It's ironic how often Jo and Theo mention how inadequate they are at expressing themselves on paper, when actually the opposite is true. In these letters that we are so privileged to be able to read, they are so considerate and thoughtful of each other's feelings and actually get inside each other's minds by reading and expressing thoughts on paper. In this way, their time apart is spent getting to know each other, almost as much as if they were in the same room.

Jo often writes, in her womanly way, about practical matters, true, but is so endearing as she scolds herself for being too trivial or boring and never allows herself to get too bogged down by teacups and dressing gowns. Jo seems to be quite liberated. In one letter she says she's shocked at Theo mentioning that he might want to keep her locked up inside the new apartment; in another letter, she lets Theo know in no uncertain terms that he should not delude himself that she has no opinion on a subject as important as the arrangement of the furniture - that she has "ten opinions for that matter." She's got spirit. And Theo is so sweet as he constantly reminds her that everything she does is important to him and that he loves hearing about "everyday things" in her life. We find ourselves getting to know these two and anticipating what the reply will be in the next letter.

At the same time, it is touching how Jo is so sympathetic and loving toward Theo's plight with his brother and often tries to be helpful without being too pushy or presumptuous. Reading these letters, one can see the plan and her life purpose unfolding. We can't imagine anyone else playing this part in the Van Gogh brothers' life more compassionately and productively.

Theo's expression in letters exalts his position in the van Gogh story and he comes across as literally a prophet and seems to know not only that one day Vincent will be world famous, but so much more. His own writings here show us how valuable a role Theo played in Vincent's imminent success. It's as though they were one person. On one hand, Theo understands Vincent completely and knows his soul; yet on the other, he is destroyed by the constant worrying his brother's hopeless situation brings. He wishes good things for Vincent, but knows they'll never happen.

The thing that I enjoyed the most about this book is reading Theo's thoughts on art. He was a true unmitigated art lover and a romantic soul who was able to feel and embrace the meaning and essence of paintings and the artists' expression. I love Theo's letter to Jo (27 Jan. 1889) where he compares music to art. And the poignant remark, "I realise I'm filling my page with what are probably incomprehensible flights of fancy..."

When Theo sets out to define art, it is as if he were right there with Vincent painting in the mistral winds, "What is art? ...the painter will in all likelihood have succeeded in giving us a glimpse of ourselves... he will have succeeded in touching our very soul... this concept is the purest."

"The painter can only tell us about what the world reveals to him and, if he is a great artist, he does so in a way that moves us."

Theo talking about Degas, Monet, de Haan, Gauguin... what a glimpse into a chapter in art history that has been interpreted over and over in movies, books and art classes... but never expressed in this way. Reading him describe a Monet painting is sheer delight!

But his heartfelt soul bleeds most when he talks about Vincent. He knows him as well as he knows himself and when he calls Vincent a genius, explains why he has such difficulties and knows the paradox that is Vincent; when he reminds Jo that he is "exceptional" and that there is no solution where Vincent goes, that "There's no such thing as a peaceful environment for him," Theo is, in a way also talking about himself.

Theo tells Jo he has "a marble by Rodin representing the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The sculptor chose a figure for the precursor of Christ that bears a striking resemblance to Vincent." In her introduction to the "complete letters," Jo added, "Later, when I saw the sculpture, I found it bore a perfect resemblance to Theo."

That about says it all.

Rating:
Summary: Not Just for the Student of Art...
Review: What a wonderful book! Not just for the student of art... reading this correspondence could inspire us all. It is fresh, vivid and frank. And it is a reminder that before e-mail, we once wrote letters... before telephones, we once poured our hearts out on paper... before television, we exercised our brains and spent time building relationships.

It's ironic how often Jo and Theo mention how inadequate they are at expressing themselves on paper, when actually the opposite is true. In these letters that we are so privileged to be able to read, they are so considerate and thoughtful of each other's feelings and actually get inside each other's minds by reading and expressing thoughts on paper. In this way, their time apart is spent getting to know each other, almost as much as if they were in the same room.

Jo often writes, in her womanly way, about practical matters, true, but is so endearing as she scolds herself for being too trivial or boring and never allows herself to get too bogged down by teacups and dressing gowns. Jo seems to be quite liberated. In one letter she says she's shocked at Theo mentioning that he might want to keep her locked up inside the new apartment; in another letter, she lets Theo know in no uncertain terms that he should not delude himself that she has no opinion on a subject as important as the arrangement of the furniture - that she has "ten opinions for that matter." She's got spirit. And Theo is so sweet as he constantly reminds her that everything she does is important to him and that he loves hearing about "everyday things" in her life. We find ourselves getting to know these two and anticipating what the reply will be in the next letter.

At the same time, it is touching how Jo is so sympathetic and loving toward Theo's plight with his brother and often tries to be helpful without being too pushy or presumptuous. Reading these letters, one can see the plan and her life purpose unfolding. We can't imagine anyone else playing this part in the Van Gogh brothers' life more compassionately and productively.

Theo's expression in letters exalts his position in the van Gogh story and he comes across as literally a prophet and seems to know not only that one day Vincent will be world famous, but so much more. His own writings here show us how valuable a role Theo played in Vincent's imminent success. It's as though they were one person. On one hand, Theo understands Vincent completely and knows his soul; yet on the other, he is destroyed by the constant worrying his brother's hopeless situation brings. He wishes good things for Vincent, but knows they'll never happen.

The thing that I enjoyed the most about this book is reading Theo's thoughts on art. He was a true unmitigated art lover and a romantic soul who was able to feel and embrace the meaning and essence of paintings and the artists' expression. I love Theo's letter to Jo (27 Jan. 1889) where he compares music to art. And the poignant remark, "I realise I'm filling my page with what are probably incomprehensible flights of fancy..."

When Theo sets out to define art, it is as if he were right there with Vincent painting in the mistral winds, "What is art? ...the painter will in all likelihood have succeeded in giving us a glimpse of ourselves... he will have succeeded in touching our very soul... this concept is the purest."

"The painter can only tell us about what the world reveals to him and, if he is a great artist, he does so in a way that moves us."

Theo talking about Degas, Monet, de Haan, Gauguin... what a glimpse into a chapter in art history that has been interpreted over and over in movies, books and art classes... but never expressed in this way. Reading him describe a Monet painting is sheer delight!

But his heartfelt soul bleeds most when he talks about Vincent. He knows him as well as he knows himself and when he calls Vincent a genius, explains why he has such difficulties and knows the paradox that is Vincent; when he reminds Jo that he is "exceptional" and that there is no solution where Vincent goes, that "There's no such thing as a peaceful environment for him," Theo is, in a way also talking about himself.

Theo tells Jo he has "a marble by Rodin representing the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The sculptor chose a figure for the precursor of Christ that bears a striking resemblance to Vincent." In her introduction to the "complete letters," Jo added, "Later, when I saw the sculpture, I found it bore a perfect resemblance to Theo."

That about says it all.