The Sunflowers are Mine

May 1, 2014

Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) expert Bailey (lead writer, The Art Newspaper; Letters from Provence) tells the story of the artist's seven iconic sunflower paintings, from their creation through what is known of them today. The first of the book's two parts focuses on the artist's lifetime. Bailey conjectures convincingly about van Gogh's likely inspirations and influences and offers an extended explication of his techniques as well as the works themselves. He revels in details, such as how van Gogh hung one of the paintings, made for fellow artist Paul Gauguin, in the guest room of his yellow house in Arles. The second section focuses on what happened to each of the pieces after van Gogh's death. Bailey includes illustrations of each, including the still life of six sunflowers against a dark-blue background, which was destroyed during World War II. The author recounts how the images were widely ridiculed as those of a madman. In 1987, however, a Japanese insurance company paid over 25 million sterling for one of these pieces. VERDICT Public libraries would do well to purchase this book, as plenty of people love the sunflower paintings and will enjoy reading about their history. A welcome addition to the voluminous literature on van Gogh for scholars and students of postimpressionist art.--Ellen Bates, New York

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