Mrs Van Gogh: The breathtaking historical novel inspired by the true story of the woman who made Van Gogh famous

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A case holding photographs of Jo Bonger and Theo van Gogh (1889) Credit: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation) Later, she inherits all of Vincent’s paintings and letters. As a lover of art, she gets the drive to bring Vincent’s art to the world. And for the world to understand him better through his paintings – his hard work and his sorrows, not his madness. I’m at a loss for words. I’ve stepped into a world where madness and art seem to hold hands to dance. I’m not sure I know how to exist here.’

Luijten, Hans. Jo van Gogh-Bonger: The Woman who Made Vincent Famous. Translated by Lynne Richards. London: Bloomsbury Visual Arts 2022. ISBN 978-1350299580. When Johanna’s brother Andries introduces her to the Van Gogh brothers, she is thrust into a bizarre world. Jo originally wants to be an artist but does not have the confidence in her abilities. Her brother tries to help by making connections for her to meet and learn from other artists. He wants her to achieve her dreams but their parents are keen to marry Jo off to an old man of their choosing. This sets Jo on a runaway path to avoid the inevitable. Theo Van Gogh, though, has his eye on Johanna and though she is slow to respond, due to a previous heartbreak, she eventually falls deeply for this brother of Vincent’s. (In some ways, Theo becomes her rescuer in a society that sees women as needing a husband. He just wants her to be herself. ) But becoming involved with one Van Gogh, means being part of the other brother’s life, too. And that presents some heavy challenges and later unexpected surprises. Ma non è Vincent Van Gogh il protagonista, la protagonista del romanzo è infatti una donna ingiustamente sconosciuta, che ha svolto un ruolo fondamentale nel riconoscimento postumo di Vincent. È grazie a Johanna Bonger se i quadri di Van Gogh non sono finiti nel dimenticatoio. Lei, donna di fine ottocento, è stata una dei pochi ad aver compreso il talento di Vincent e ad aver lottato assiduamente perché questo fosse riconosciuto anche dagli altri. Ha cambiato il corso della storia dell'arte ed è a stento nominata nei libri. Photographs of Jo Bonger with her son Vincent, 1892 (left); and with her grandsons Theo and Johan on her lap, 1922 (right) Credit: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)He’s one of the most progressive painters alive. He has to keep painting,’ he says. ‘He forces us to surrender conventional ideas when viewing his art. But Jo … Can I hope that one day he’ll be understood?’

But this story is more about Johanna and how the view towards independent women in the late 1800s was severe. The torment she endured, the ridicule by jealous onlookers, the struggles she had being caught between the love of two brothers. The portrayal here is that she was a strong woman who carried some heavy burdens, regrets and grief from her loss. Her marriage to Theo was sadly too short but her fierce protection of the child born of their love is triumphantly displayed in this novel. I was so glad Ms Cauchi included the later aspects of her life and that of her son’s. Claire Cooperstein, Johanna. A Novel of the Van Gogh Family. New York: Scribner Book Company 1995 ISBN 9780684802343 A fairy tale never loses its charm. Clovers and Fire is no exception. This story has all the components you've come to love and expect in a fairytale: knights, princes, adventure, magic lands, and even a dragon. Told with a bit of humor, I found this book charming, and great as a family read-out-loud. The short chapters, humor, and vivid action make this a families and children will enjoy." ---Kirstin Pulioff, author of The Escape for Princess Madeline

Her perseverance was for idealistic reasons. As the biography explains: “First and foremost, she wanted, come what may, to complete the task that Theo had set himself in 1890—publicising Vincent’s art. Secondly, and no less importantly to her, she supported the socialist view that looking at art could elevate people.”

I mentioned to someone I was reading "Mrs Van Gogh" and they immediately said "I thought he never married?".Surprising, clever and beguiling, Mrs. Van Gogh is a Historical Fiction based on true people and events. Though we have all heard of the ingenious and disturbed Vincent Van Gogh, how much do we really know of Johanna Bonger who married Vincent's brother, Theo? This fascinating story is about love, loss, mental and physical illness and the tireless drive of a woman who strove to get Vincent's paintings noticed and keep them relevant. While there is no definitive diagnosis of what was wrong with Vincent, he seemed to be manically depressed, had psychotic episodes and probably had syphilis as well, as sex at brothels was widely undertaken in those heady days ..... ultimately this was the under lying cause of Jo's husbands spiral into madness. She highlights the role of women in art through Johanna’s struggles to become an artist and later an art dealer and also though the relationship between sculpture August Rodin his student Camille Claudel who she portrays as his lover and creative rival. This revelation may put you off reading Mrs Van Gogh - don’t let it. Because despite this what Carline does is give Johanna a voice and her fictional account is entertaining and believable. She makes it so with vivid descriptions of late 19th century Paris and populates her novel with, for the most part, real people and excellent characterizations.

Despite this she does develop Vincent in such a way to show the complex character he was. I, like the Johanna in the novel, initially didn’t like the Vincent portrayed but eventually came to understand why he was like he was and in the end I had sympathy and empathy for him. First off – the book is written in the present tense and first person which allows the author to put thoughts and words into the mouth of people dead and gone. The entire first Chapter is 100% fiction. It starts out with Johanna, supposedly an aspiring artist, arriving in Paris to live with her brother. NEVER happened it is a figment of the author’s imagination. After that I saw no reason to read any more. A fictional story based on fact this was a fascinating read. The addendum at the end of the book explains how much was based on fact and what was poetic licence, and there was a lot of the latter. Well written and I found it a wonderfully insightful story about a woman ahead of her time in many ways. Mrs Van Gogh nee Johanna Bonger married Theo Van Gogh, Vincent’s older brother and, despite Vincent’s at the time despicable behaviour towards her, treated him as her brother.Luijten, Hans (2019). Alles voor Vincent: Het leven van Jo van Gogh-Bonger (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Prometheus. ISBN 9789044641660. Il libro è drammatico e triste, la figura di Vincent viene dipinta senza fronzoli. Un uomo malato, depresso, sofferente a causa della solitudine e della costante sensazione di essere incompreso. Tuttavia, non si capisce fino in fondo se il disprezzo della gente abbia scalfito oppure no la sua autostima di pittore. Barattava i suoi quadri in cambio di cibo e alcool, ma in qualche modo continuava a crederci e soprattutto continuava a dipingere. Non ha mai smesso, per nostra fortuna.