Vincent van Gogh believed that drawing was the “root of everything.” This was reflected in the remarkable output of more than one thousand graphic works produced by the artist during his short and dramatic life—many of them personal, often lonely explorations of the emerging modern world. The Drawings of Vincent van Gogh is a comprehensive account celebrating the singularity of the artist’s achievements in this field.
Arranging by theme, from drawings of humble harvesters to beautifully rendered depictions of landscapes, pensive life studies to memorable sketches of the famous Yellow House, eminent art historian Christopher Lloyd encourages readers to consider the artist’s drawings from a fresh viewpoint: documenting successes and failures, experiments, trials, and disappointments. Primarily self-taught, Van Gogh’s approach to drawing was instinctual, but he soon recognized the importance of mastering the grammar of art, as well as materials and techniques, in order to expresshis emotional responses to a subject as vividly as possible. With examples from the artist’s voluminous and highly charged family correspondence, sketchbooks, and comparative artworks, this engaging study outlines why drawing is central to Van Gogh’s oeuvre, and equal to the intensity and reputation of his paintings.
Featuring works from the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, and many other important collections in Europe and the United States, this beautifully illustrated volume offers an extensive interpretation of the artist’s drawings, beyond what has been published to date.
