IDENTITY
Letter 632 — Christ as artist and the great artistic tradition
Arles, 1888
Content Summary
Van Gogh writes to Émile Bernard about Christ, Delacroix, Rembrandt and Millet while reflecting on artistic greatness, humility and creation.
CONTEXT
Topics
Artistic Philosophy, Artistic Influence, Literature, Religion and Art, Arles Practice
Materials & Pigments
Related People
Vincent van Gogh, Émile Bernard, Eugène Delacroix, Rembrandt, Jean-François Millet
Paintings
RESEARCH
Quotation
Research Focus
The letter places Van Gogh’s conception of artistic vocation within a broad moral and historical framework, bringing religious thought and admired artists into the same reflection on creative greatness.
Related Work / Relevance
SOURCES & EVIDENCE
Source Type
Letter
Source
Source Edition
Vincent van Gogh — The Letters, scholarly online edition (Van Gogh Museum / Huygens ING; website version December 2024)
Source URL
Evidence Type
Primary Source, Scholarly Annotation
Related Readings