Vincent van Gogh's letters have long been prized as some of the most valuable documents in the world of art. Not only do they throw light on Van Gogh's own complex and intriguing character, they enlighten the whole creative process through his eyes. Van Gogh's entire existing correspondence has been newly transcribed and translated, correcting previous mistranscriptions, and is now to be published in the most complete edition ever produced, illustrated extensively throughout, and drawing on fifteen years of scholarship and dedicated research. For the first time, all the works to which Van Gogh refers will be shown alongside the letters - not only the paintings and drawings that he himself was working on at the time, but also the works by other artists that he saw and about which he writes so passionately. Sketches that Van Gogh made throughout the letters themselves are all reproduced here at actual size.
In over 900 letters we can observe Van Gogh's thoughts and opinions at first hand, as well as his close ties with his brother Theo, his sometimes troubled relationships with friends and fellow artists, his personal doubts and fears, and above all his overriding passion for his art. This ediotion is not only an exemplar of scholarly endeavour at its highest level, it also provides a lasting pleasure as a personal written testimony to a life consecrated to art.