One of the most extraordinary experiences of my life was the first time I visited the Metropolitan in New York and sat on a bench in the Post Impressionist gallery. I marveled at the beauty and emotional intensity conveyed by paintings by Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet and others.

This 5 volume book reproduces all of Vincent's works plus all of the pictures that he makes reference to in his hundrends of letters. At $526 before taxes and shipping I doubt if I'll be getting a copy soon, but I would like to see it someday.

i was never a fan until i saw his work in person.
the paint is more sculpted than painted creating a motion and depth i had never seen before. many of his paintings don't work when recreated on a poster as they are 3d, so to speak.
the last time i was in amsterdam, the museum was closed for repair or some such. i had seen several shows of his work earlier and elsewhere... great work.
thanks for the post.

until i saw his work in person

Same here.

Seeing the original paintings is so much better.

Cezanne would apply paint with a trowel on some portraits of men so that it would crack and add gravitas to the image.

You have to see techniques like that on the original to really appreciate them.

You have to see techniques like that on the original to really appreciate them.

Posted by silver_ironist

100%

the most wonderful aspect of museums is walking around a corner and seeing something that one has seen in school, a book, or poster and eying it in real life.
be it a cezanne, monet, or what have you... there is nothing like the real thing.
it's a bit sad that, by and large, one has to travel abroad to get huge portions of culture. yes, ny, chicago, etc.. have outstanding collections but europe still houses the bulk of history's genius when it comes to art. they also seemingly do not fall prey (as much) to contemporary niches that believe an airplane propeller with buckets hanging from it as art.