In Van Gogh's Own Words

Although raised in a devout Protestant household, his father and grandfather both pastors, Van Gogh's work as a missionary among impoverished coal miners in the Borinage led to a profound disillusionment with traditional religious dogma. Experiencing a godliness in the dignity of the working people, he shifted from conventional religious beliefs to a more personal and mystical understanding of spirituality. For him, the divine could be found in the beauty of the natural world, in the nobility of labor, and in the act of creating art that expressed these truths. At the age of 27, he committed himself fully to the lifelong pursuit of revealing this vision in his painting. As his deeply personal letters unfold, we gain a fuller understanding of the spirit, struggles, and spiritual quest of this extraordinary artist- and a deeper appreciation of his artistic genius.