9781422285404

VANGOGH

5

(Public Domain)

 ABOVE:  A young Vincent Van Gogh.

In a letter to his brother Theo in 1882, Vincent Van Gogh wrote: “There are two ways of thinking about painting, how not to do it and how to do it. How to do it – with much drawing and little color; how not to do it – with much color and little drawing.” March 2013 marked the 160 th anniversary of the birth of this prolific painter, who despite not receiving recognition during his 37 years, is, today, one of the world’s most loved and admired artists. Van

Gogh was dedicated to his art and studied and practiced resolutely, often suffering mental and physical exhaustion, in order to hone his skills. He believed in the words he wrote to his brother and became an exquisite drawer before he developed his unmistakable style using bold color. At the age of 28, in December 1881, Van Gogh was just beginning his life as an artist. Much of how his drawings, paintings, graphic works, and watercolors