  | Sunflowers : Vincent Van Gogh's search for beauty Author: Marwan, Zahra | |
| Price: $24.48 | ||
Summary:
Vincent van Gogh paints what others consider inelegant. But those sunflowers bring happiness to his troubled heart. And it isn't until he begins traveling that his world opens up to new friends and new ideas that help his heart and art thrive more than he could have ever imagined.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (-) (07/15/24)
School Library Journal (+) (00/09/24)
Booklist (+) (08/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 08/01/2024 *Starred Review* This inspiring, age-appropriate biography of Van Gogh focuses on how the artist persisted in painting sunflowers at a time when most people regarded them as garish and rustic. Dates aren’t given in the text, but the period showcased is roughly 1886–88, when Van Gogh struggled in Paris and then blossomed into his most productive period after he moved to Arles. We first see a sad-looking Van Gogh living in a cramped room in a city of blues and grays, but as his world expands, he changes. He starts going to cafés and exhibits and makes artist friends, including Paul Gauguin. In 1888, Van Gogh moves to Arles, where he paints the starry night sky, wheat fields, the sea, and, of course, a host of sunflowers. The illustrations, created with watercolors and ink, pens, and pencils, show how Van Gogh’s world grows brighter by infiltrating pops of yellow, green, pink, and violet into Paris scenes and then by showing him in sun-drenched Arles, happily carrying canvases and paints with his friend Gauguin into the countryside. Renditions of some of Van Gogh’s paintings, including The Bedroom in Arles and Starry Night, subtly introduce young readers to his work. This also carries a strong message about the importance of friendship and persistence. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
