Van Gogh Repetitions

Popular perceptions of Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) frequently envision the painter working before nature in an emotional frenzy, yet the artist's method was more often controlled and deliberate. Van Gogh Repetitions is the first book to focus on the artist's "repetitions", a term he used to describe his process of producting multiple versions of a composition. Van Gogh ultimately developed a conceptual framework that distinguished his repetitions from copies, etudes, tableaux, and decorations, balancing modernist aspirations toward orginality with the creation of multiples. The artist's practice of producing repetitions was far more extensive and vital to his creative process than is commonly recognized. In this groundbreaking and beautifully illustrated book, a series of essays considers the many unresolved issues and controversies surrounding the repetitions, which include their origins, development and meaning in van Gogh's art. Analyses of specific paintings make use of technical and analytical examinations to understand how the artist worked, as well as to improve techniques for preserving and restoring his artworks in the future.