Work and madness of an expressionist master

Vincent van Gogh 's fate is a tragedy in art history. Today, he is considered one of the most important painters of all time; exhibitions of his works are always sold out, the museums dedicated to him are celebrated, and his works fetch tens of millions of dollars at auction. But during his lifetime, as he painted the canvases that would later become modernist masterpieces, Van Gogh struggled not only with the disinterest of his contemporaries but also with severe bouts of mental illness: depression and debilitating anxiety, which ultimately led him to take his own life in 1890, shortly after his 37th birthday.

This comprehensive study of Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) combines a detailed monograph of his life and work with the complete catalogue raisonné of his 871 paintings.