Who Shot Van Gogh?: Facts and counterfacts about the world's most famous artist

This book explores the myths and truths about Vincent van Gogh's life and work,using a variety of sources and images to challenge long-held beliefs about the artist. It is a must-have for art lovers and museumgoers, providing new insights into the man and his legacy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Vincent van Gogh, the renowned artist, has captivated the world with his captivating creations and enigmatic life. Despite his immense fame, our understanding of his life remains shrouded in contradictions. Art historians, filmmakers, journalists, psychologists, and conspiracy theorists have offered diverse theories about his life and work, often diverging widely in their perspectives. Van Gogh has been portrayed as a suffering genius, a madman, the embodiment of peace and compassion, a man of violence who posed a threat to himself and others, a religious fanatic, and a Marxist. The truth lies somewhere between these conflicting narratives, and it is this quest for the truth that this book explores.

Since the early publications on Van Gogh in the early twentieth century, his story has undergone a continuous rewriting process. This book presents a captivating collage of concise facts and 'counterfacts' drawn from a wide range of sources. Fellow artists, friends, family, doctors, psychoanalysts, actors, writers, theorists, crackpots, and scholars contribute their insights to this comprehensive examination. Conflicting statements intertwine with an unconventional curation of images, including postcards of locations associated with the artist, photographs of a fraudster's legal trial, a children's toy, a bottle label, and a rusty revolver.

Author Turnbull offers a kaleidoscope of fact and fiction about the world's most discussed artist, presenting readers with new insights into Van Gogh's life, work, and legacy. The book is both humorous and heartrending, often challenging long-held ideas about the artist. Van Gogh himself would be amazed at the global phenomenon he has become, and this book invites all readers familiar with Van Gogh to engage in a thought-provoking exploration of his enigmatic existence.

Whether you are an art lover or a museumgoer, this book is a must-have for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Van Gogh and his profound impact on the art world. It encourages readers to challenge long-accepted ideas and embrace the rich tapestry of his life and work.

Weight: 504g
Dimension: 148 x 225 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780500024843