Cliff Edwards
Broadleaf Books, 208 pages
Vincent Van Gogh was a remarkable man who sought his entire life to combine beauty with a fierce attention to the oppressed. This book, written by a well-respected Van Gogh scholar, explores in detail Van Gogh’s artistic vision by close attention to his letters to his brother Theo. The letters are accompanied by commentary from Cliff Edwards, along with an illumination and suggestions for reflection and deeper engagement. The purpose is to deepen our perception of the world — not only world of nature, but the entire world as Van Gogh did. Many of us know and love his paintings, though few of us know his vision. Edwards wants us to see the world clearly, to sharpen our own perception of what is most needed: “Through his eyes we see corners of the world he felt needed attention, often the most ignored moments in ordinary people.” Van Gogh was rejected in his quest to be a pastor because he entered so deeply into the lives of suffering people and spoke passionately about them. His own suffering is well known, as he said to his beloved brother, “I’m often in a mess.” His quest to see clearly never faded, though it ended tragically. Saint Paul once prayed that the eyes of the heart would be illuminated to see God rightly. Van Gogh, the tortured artist, took this seriously. So does the author of this book. It’s an invitation to engage with Van Gogh’s writings, his “second gift,” in order to see a world of beauty in the most unlikely places.
