On the Verge of Insanity2016

The mental state of Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) has been a perennial source of discussion and conjecture since his death by suicide. Was he mentally ill or a genius? What was the precise nature of Van Gogh's illness? Did it influence his work? This intriguing publication examines how Van Gogh's mental condition revealed itself in 1888 and how he struggled with it throughout his life. Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo, his artist friends, and his sister Willemien reveal that his primary reason for living was his art. Richly illustrated with artworks, letters, previously unpublished historical documents, and photographs, 'On the Verge of Insanity' provides a nuanced and considered overview of an extraordinary man who had to cope with mental illness at a time when the symptoms were...