Van Gogh's Second Gift: A Spiritual Path to Deeper Creativity by Cliff Edwards - Book Recommendation

 


"...how many people expend their best efforts on something that isn’t worthy of their best efforts, and treat what they love in a ‘stepmotherly’ fashion instead of giving themselves openly to the irresistible urging of their heart."

If you love reading letters or if you are a fan of the great artist Van Gogh, then reading Van Gogh's Second Gift will bring you pleasure and grant you another perspective on his life.

Van Gogh's Second Gift commentates on a collection of letters the artist wrote to his brother, sister-in-law, and friends. The letters show us Van Gogh's view on literature, his approach to his work, and how his Christian beliefs shaped his artistic priorities.

LIKES
It is always a privilege to read a dead's artists own words, rather than the ones written about him. Van Gogh own letters reveal a lot about him, much more than any commentary or third party opinion ever will. This book delivers a lot on that. We are given a front seat to Van Gogh's words and what he thinks about certain things against the backdrop of what is going on in the world at the time.

His views on money, love, and what manner of life an artist ought to strive for is worth a read.


DISLIKES
None.

SAMPLE PASSAGE

I’m not ashamed of my feelings, I’m not ashamed of being a man, of having principles and faith. But where do I want to drive people, especially myself? To the open sea. And which doctrine do I preach? People, let us surrender our souls to our cause and let us work with our heart and love what we love.
Love what we love, what an unnecessary warning that seems, and yet how great a raison d’être. After all, how many people expend their best efforts on something that isn’t worthy of their best efforts, and treat what they love in a ‘stepmotherly’ fashion instead of giving themselves openly to the irresistible urging of their heart.

Many thanks to Broadleaf Book for review copy.

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