This is a visually captivating exploration of Vincent van Gogh's life. This graphic novel dives into the hectic journey of his life all the while blending his artistic capabilities with the struggles he experienced throughout his life. This graphic novel did a great job of conveying complex emotions through its illustrations that mirrored van Gogh's own style. I love that it does not shy away from showcasing the uglier bits of his life such as his battles with mental illness, and how he struggled with isolation or poverty. Having this biography in graphic novel form is fantastic for people who find them daunting and can be especially helpful for younger readers. Getting to know his life's story allows one to view his artwork with new lens and see them differently than before.

As an artist, I absolutely adored this book! I loved learning about Van Gogh throughout highschool and to be able to revisit that and learn about him even more, was amazing!
I can definitely see how this book will be incredibly helpful for younger artists who inspire to learn more about such a world famous artist. The way the story was planned and displayed via both text and pictures is incredible!

A really nice illustrated biography of Van Gogh. His life is told from the point of view of his sister in law, Jo, who was Theo’s wife. It is told with kindness and also admiration for Van Gogh’s talent, in spite of all the hardships this created for Theo and his family. The book illustrates well the commitment Jo had to make Vincent known and to develop the international recognition for his art.
It is well written and well illustrated, with colours reminiscent of Vincent and some of his own pictures.
A really good book to discover Vincent Van Gogh and understand how his art acquired the fame it has today.

This was a wonderful read, the illustrations really made the story come to life. Heartbreaking to understand more about Vincent and his life story and how his sister in law worked so hard to preserve both his and Theo’s names. I think a trigger warning at the beginning of the book would be a good addition as I wasn’t expecting to see certain events illustrated even if they weren’t detailed.

The graphic memoir frames van Gogh's life through the perspective of the wife of his borther, trying to pull his life story together out of the pieces she knows from his family and the letters he wrote to he husband, However the art style was not what I hoped and the graphic presentation of information was not the most imaginative. It was informative but at times reading it felt like a chore, which is the opposite effect of what graphic non-fiction should aim for.

I learned a lot about not only van Gogh's short life and career through this short graphic biography, along with his family dynamics and the survival of his legacy. Told from the unique perspective of Theo van Gogh's widow, Jo, the narrative reveals her role in keeping van Gogh's work in the public eye, and finding a way to honor the legacy of both her husband and brother-in-law. Jo's voice feels real, as there are emotions, 19th century perspectives, and self-effacement of her accomplishments throughout. The main critique I have is that the art is somewhat uneven at times; the people depicted are frequently very simple and lacking in detail, though the re-creations of van Gogh's works and style in some of the panels is beautifully done. Overall, a compelling depiction of van Gogh's life, delving into his work as an artist and his troubles as a human.

It’s important to note that I went into this book expecting a narrative graphic novel, but the book itself is closer to those illustrated histories you probably remember from school. I was a bit confused who the audience was meant to be. The writing and the fact that it was illustrated led me to believe it was for a younger crowd, but then some of the themes discussed were certainly of a more adult nature. However, van Gogh is endlessly fascinating to me and it was interesting learning new bits of his life that I wasn’t quite so familiar with. I do want to give a special mention for the illustration which was clearly done in a van Gogh inspired style. I read this on digital, but I would love to see how the physical copies came out.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

This book explores Vincent Van Gogh’s life from the very beginning until his tragic demise, through the lens of his sister-in-law. It is with beauty, longing and sadness that we get to see a glimpse of Van Gogh’s life, his art and several beautiful illustrations that bring Vincent’s story to life. I really enjoyed the depiction of Van Gogh’s life, but bear in mind that this is, in no way, a deep analysis of the artist; however, it is still a great way to know more about him.

I am a pretty big art history fan and am a particular fan of Vincent Van Gogh. There has been a huge push into telling his life story in the past few years, and each has told a different narrative. I liked that this biography was told from the perspective of his sister-in-law, but I did not think the perspective of his story was very nuanced or objective. It seems as if the biography is pushing a rather outdated understanding of his life story that some scholars have proven to be inaccurate.

This was a NetGalley book [original due date <b>8.6.2024</b>] with a 'download by' date of <b>6.27.2024. I downloaded it a couple of days before to read ad when I opened it, the whole book was empty, with no words and only 2 pages of illustrations [I deleted it and downloaded it again to no avail as there was still no words and this time no illustrations either]. Thankfully, I was able to get it at the library [<b>FLP OverDrive</b>] when it was published. The review is below.

This is a brilliant and comprehensive biography [filled with bright, colorful illustrations as well as re-creations of Vincent's works] of the genius that was Vincent van Gogh, and of the brother [Theo] that loved him to distraction [regardless of his own health and status], and the sister-in-law [Jo] who also loved him, enough to complete the work that Theo set out to do [and charged Jo to finish when he himself died not long after Vincent's death], which was to show the world the brilliance and beauty of Vncent's work. The story is sad, not for the faint of heart, and frustrating, but also beautiful because of the love they all shared [along with Jo and Theo's son Vincent, named after his beloved Uncle, who was instrumental in getting the Van Gogh Museum opened] and the love they had of Vincent's work.

Very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Elliot, and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion/Frances Lincoln for providing this [unreadable] ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5? The art in some places was a little bit simple and not matching the style of Van Gogh but in other places there were gorgeous renditions of his works. It was interesting though to see his story in the POV of his sister in law Jo who was a big part of his eventual success

I'm an avid fan of art and try to visit local museums when I travel to a new city. I didn't know much about Van Gogh before reading this graphic biography, other than he had a bleak life. This book was very grim, unfortunately mirroring the difficult life that Vincent lived. It was a peculiar choice to have the story told from the perspective of his sister in law rather than the author himself. The author had a big order to fulfill and I believe he achieved half of it. The author tried to recreate Van Gogh's paintings in his own style, which was a daunting task. You can't duplicate masterpieces and the rendition came off rather shoddy. The biography element was more of an info dump than a fluid revelation of the artist's life. This comic was very depressing, but at least I learned a few things. It was a fantastic idea to showcase Vincent Van Gogh's life in a visual format, even if it was more blurry than Starry Night.

This was a short, at times endearing book that gave an interesting pictorial format to the vicissitudes and wonders that characterised the life of Van Gogh. As an art history student, with a deep, enduring adoration of Van Gogh, as an individual and artist, I am always intrigued by new renderings of his story despite being thoroughly informed of it already. His was a figuratively and literally vibrant existence that, in theory, invites a colourful, snappy, graphic adaptation; unfortunately, I am not entirely convinced that this publication managed to effectively portray this.

Elliott chooses to tell Vincent's story from the perspective of Jo Van Gogh-Bonger (the wife of his brother, Theo), who was indisputably the unparalleled force behind the eventual, universal fame of her brother-in-law. I have read other accounts of Vincent's life and work that have similarly been penned from the vantage point of the Van Gogh relatives, usually aiming for a fair contextualisation of their relative's artistic endeavours. In my opinion, it is a worthy angle to take so long as one remembers that these familial machinations should never supersede the innate ambition and fervour of Vincent; for example, he wouldn't have asked for financial aid from his brother had he not wholly believed in his passion for art; likewise his brother wouldn't have given him it. What I feel so many authors fail to understand, or illustrate, in their depictions of the Van Gogh brothers is just how much faith they had in each other, for there is invariably this underlying sense of mercantile coldness; Vincent using Theo for money; Theo maintaining a saintly role of benefactor; conversing about the price of paint, canvases, and an artists' commune. Theoretically, by Elliot giving us Jo's first-person discussion of the circumstances, there should have been a sense of the emotional adjudicator throughout the text indicating her personal, interactive knowledge regarding the brothers, their joys and their woes. It is with great disappointment that I have to say that such presumed insight fell shockingly hollow, undiscerning and, once more, notably prejudicial towards Vincent on financial matters. Not only did Jo's, art historically vociferous, character quickly become limpid and mawkish but, in turn, her representations of other players in the story (especially Vincent) became similarly lacking in vitality and complexity.

Sadly, I think this lack of palpable characterisation was less remedied by the graphic nature of the book, and more likely emphasised by comparable detractors in the art. Personally, when I looked at the cover art for this publication I had expected each page to present a wonderfully vivid, Van Gogh-esque design covering the white of the paper in glorious whorls of the brightest colours. Instead, I found that an overwhelming number of the graphics within were not only small (large areas of white pervaded where I'd expected at least a background design/colour) but remarkably unlike the style of Vincent, which made for rather peculiar and jarring compositions where Elliott's Vincent is enveloped within a much more accurate representation of 'Starry Night' or 'Wheatfield with Crows'. Of course, I cannot be sure that the intention was to create the graphics to be reminiscent of Vincent or that was in fact an erroneous assumption of my own, but either way I felt that they severely lacked the resplendent, emotive verve that I believe belongs in any written or visual ode to Van Gogh.

I am also interested to know/find out the desired audience for this book. There were several occasions, both at the beginning and the end, where I certainly felt the methodology of combined easy history/inspiration aimed at children, but there are also direct mentions of prostitution and later depictions of Vincent in the throes of a breakdown, blood pouring from his ear. On these latter accounts, my previous understanding of its appropriateness for children appears rather flayed, however, I also don't see this publication being particularly gripping or informative for teenagers and adults for it is neither immensely detailed nor innovative in its storytelling.

As I mentioned briefly, at the beginning of this review, I do firmly believe a graphic retelling of Vincent van Gogh's life to be a fascinating idea and a supremely effective way of getting across his personality and experiences to more varied audiences. Unfortunately, I cannot confidently say that Elliott's book achieves either of these things, in a visually appealing or factually nuanced manner.

Vincent Van Gogh was a visionary whose genius and struggles were never fully understood in his lifetime. Presenting his life in this format is a refreshing way to engage readers who may be curious about the man behind the legend.

I’m a massive fan of the artist, so was I drawn in with the striking cover design. My attention was held by the fact that it focused on how his sister-in-law was his biggest champion. I really do hope this book reaches a wide audience, as I think it’s a wonderful endeavour.

I love all things VVG but this one didnt really hit the mark. It was missing something, felt rather simple.

I've been really enjoying graphic biographies recently, so I was excited to see this one up for grabs on NetGalley. The format is such a fantastic way to introduce non-fiction in an accessible way. However, this one wasn't my favourite for that. What I look for most in graphic biogs is an easy-access entry point to a figure I don't know much about without too much dense text. Unfortunately, this felt far too text-heavy for me, and made me wonder why it was a graphic novel at many points. The art itself is stunning, and it feels like it should have been trusted more to convey some of the information that was instead included in paragraphs of text. I feel like this would have been a much nicer reading experience for me if it either let the illustrations do more of the talking, or if it leant into the text-heaviness and provided this as a short non-fiction book with illustrations throughout. It felt like it relied too much on the text for a graphic biog, but it was slightly too image-heavy to be a traditional biog.

That being said, I still enjoyed this. Vincent is one of those historical figures who just lends himself to a book like this, as evidenced by other similar titles like Vincent by Barbara Stok, and I think a graphic novel is the exact way to tell the story of this fascinating life. Having this book told through the lens of Jo (Johanna) van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's sister-in-law, was a stroke of genius from Elliott, as it allows for a retrospective view of not only Vincent's life, but the impact of Vincent on his brother, Theo (Jo's husband). Jo was, in many ways, the van Gogh left behind to tell the stories of the men she loved, and this book feels as much of an homage to her as it is to Vincent.

I enjoyed and would recommend this graphic novel! I definitely learnt more about Vincent and his family and his life. I did feel a bit lost at times and did feel that perhaps the writer relied on the reader having some knowledge of art and artists from this time period and when I didn’t have this knowledge some elements and chapters were hard to follow. I enjoyed the art style and how it was similar to Vincent's personal style!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC

I have always loved Vincent and consider him one of my favorite artists and while I knew the bare bones of his background, this story goes into much more depth in a very neat and artistic way. Everything is told from the POV of his sister-in-law Jo (Which makes sense) and I truly enjoyed the quotes that were sprinkled into the text from both her, Theo and Vincent. The renditions of the art were really interesting too and you can see a lot of depictions of Vincent's art in this novel. Learning more about Vincent's life through this novel made me cry a little. I knew he'd faced lots of hardships in his life but I didn't know the full extent of some of his bouts of illness and depression. I loved that through it all both Theo and Jo stood by his side as well as other friends Vincent had. I'll be forever grateful to Jo and her son (also named Vincent) for helping people see the importance of Vincent's work.

‘Vincent: A Graphic Biography’ by Simon Elliott is a captivating graphic novel that delves into the life of the legendary artist Vincent van Gogh, presenting his story in a visually engaging format that appeals to a wide audience.

Plot: ★★★★☆

Van Gogh is an immensely fascinating individual, and it's always wonderful to see more books about him, especially in a format that is more accessible to a wider range of people. The plot effectively covers the major milestones of van Gogh's life, providing a comprehensive and engaging narrative.

Character: ★★★★☆

The portrayal of van Gogh feels very much in line with what is known about him. The graphic novel format allows for a deeper emotional connection to his character, highlighting his passion, struggles, and unique vision.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆

The illustrations really encompass van Gogh and his life. They are vibrant and evocative, capturing the essence of his art and the intensity of his experiences. The visual style complements the narrative beautifully, bringing van Gogh's story to life in a way that is both engaging and aesthetically pleasing.

Engagement: ★★★★☆

The book is very engaging, thanks to its graphic format. The combination of visual storytelling and textual narrative keeps readers hooked, making it an ideal way to introduce van Gogh's life to those who might find traditional biographies less appealing.

Readability: ★★★★☆

The readability is excellent, with clear and concise language that complements the illustrations. The graphic novel format makes the story accessible and easy to follow, ensuring that readers of all ages can appreciate the life and work of van Gogh.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆

The book is very enjoyable, providing both an educational and entertaining experience. Readers will appreciate the detailed depiction of van Gogh's life, and the engaging presentation makes it a delightful read for both fans of the artist and newcomers.


‘Vincent: A Graphic Biography’ by Simon Elliott is a well-crafted and engaging graphic novel that brings the story of Vincent van Gogh to life. With its accurate portrayal, stunning illustrations, and accessible format, it is a wonderful addition to any reader's collection, offering an inspiring and visually appealing look at the life and work of one of history's most beloved artists.

Thanks to the book in the 'Small People, BIG DREAMS' series, I rekindled my interest in one of my favorite painters, Vincent van Gogh. Despite having visited his museum and read about him in various art books, I felt the need for more detail, depth, and insight into his life and struggles.

Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law, played a crucial role in cementing his name and fame. This graphic novel narrates Vincent's story through Jo's eyes, covering the van Gogh family's journey up until the artist's death and Jo's subsequent efforts to gain critical approval and global recognition for Vincent's paintings. The story is complex and poignant, with illustrations and text that vividly convey the challenges and pain experienced by van Gogh. The novel delves into his problematic relationships, religious fervor, failures, and constant relocations, offering a multifaceted view of his life and work.

Although Jo didn't write the book herself, the narrative feels authentic and believable. Only towards the end do some parts feel slightly exaggerated or implausible, but overall, the "family member's perspective" provides an intimate and close account. The illustrations, inspired by Vincent's paintings, add a layer of authenticity and help the reader visualize the settings and subjects that captivated the artist. This detail enhances the reader's understanding and appreciation of van Gogh's work. After finishing the book, I felt a strong urge to revisit the van Gogh Museum to admire the artworks I had learned more about.

The graphic novel also piqued my interest in reading a more detailed biography and the letters that Jo translated and shared with the world. Jo van Gogh-Bonger was an incredibly brave and tenacious woman who changed the course of art history. If you prefer a concise and visually engaging account over lengthy biographies, this book is perfect. It's easy to read, relatively short, and filled with illustrations. I definitely plan to add a physical copy to my collection. Highly recommended!

Thank you so much, NetGallery and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, for this wonderful reading experience and for the ARC copy!

Review in Estonian (Aug 29, 2024): https://brixieblog.wordpress.com/2024/08/29/vincent-a-graphic-biography-simon-elliott/