Dear Theo is a collection of letters written by Van Gogh to his brother (I haven't read Owen stone's biography of Van Gogh). I think this book is an excellent way to understand Van Gogh. In the letter, Van Gogh narrated his love and disappointment for life, his unremitting pursuit of art and his unique views. The words are very plain, but not boring, and many places are moving. Reading this book, I don't think you can dislike Van Gogh.

It took me two-thirds of a month to read the book. It is a pity that there are no illustrations in the book. Here are some notes in the process of reading.

One

Van Gogh's second letter, from December 1881 to September 1883, is connected. There is no specific date. I almost thought it was a letter. No wonder I can't finish reading it. Van Gogh's attitude towards art and life can't be more clearly expressed in his letter. Simply speaking, it is "living in peace and contentment", which gives me admiration from the bottom of my heart.

"On the issue of art, the following sentence is true: being honest is the best way. I would rather not bother to study it seriously than try to be opportunistic and grandiose." This is Van Gogh's way of art. Although living in extreme poverty and eager to sell his own paintings, Van Gogh was not willing to draw some watercolor works that flattered the painters, but firmly walked his own way and practiced the most basic sketch assiduously. Van Gogh made no secret of his anger at those who had unjustly belittled himself in art. This may be the nature of genius. He knows that he is on the right path and that he will succeed.

Van Gogh has no income, and his life is entirely supported by his brother Theo. Without Theo's support, there would probably be no Van Gogh. The rent, the tools for painting, especially the cost of hiring models, have made Van Gogh unable to make ends meet, so he can only maintain the most basic life. Even in such poverty, Van Gogh still has a good heart to care for and help others. Perhaps poor people are more likely to do good. Van Gogh wrote about a female model's help:

There is another thing that deeply moved me: I told the model not to come today, but despite my orders, the poor woman came. I turned her down. "You did say, but I didn't come to pose; I just came to see if you had anything to eat." She brought me a bowl of broad beans and potatoes.

After all, there is something worth living in the world.

Van Gogh also talked about taking care of the injured miners and sharing food with the homeless old people. He said he would rather live in rags among the working people than wear fancy clothes and live in the upper class. Van Gogh valued human nature more than class prejudice.

After his hopeless love for his cousin, Van Gogh met another woman. He wrote:

This winter, I met a pregnant woman who was abandoned by a man who made her pregnant. You know what it's like to be a pregnant woman begging on the streets in winter. I hired this woman as a model and painted her all winter. I couldn't pay her all the money for modeling, but I paid the rent for her, and, thankfully, until now, I was able to protect her and her children from starvation and freezing - I gave them my own food.

Van Gogh and this woman live together, share poverty together, share happiness together, and gradually develop feelings with each other. Van Gogh wanted to marry her, but his family, including Theo, objected. Van Gogh's letter is very detailed and emotional to describe the life with her, probably also has the meaning of persuading theo. "If anyone falls in love with an ordinary person and is loved by her, although life is bitter, it is happy." this is a reflection of Van Gogh's life in this period.

Van Gogh has a self confessed saying:

It's my ambition. It's based on love, not hate. It's based on calmness, not passion. I often fall into great pain, which is true, but my heart is still quiet, is pure harmony and music, in the most humble hut, in the most dirty corner, I found the picture. My heart draws close to these things with irresistible force. Please believe me, I often laugh heartily, because people doubt me with all kinds of vicious and absurd things, none of which is guilty - I am nothing else, but a natural friend, a research friend, a working friend, especially a friend of ordinary people.

When you read Van Gogh's letter, you will say, "yes, Van Gogh is such a person." How can such Van Gogh be disliked. When a person lives in poverty, in loneliness, in contempt and misunderstanding of others, he can still keep a heart of love, which is so amazing.

Two

Van Gogh studied painting to express the beauty of nature and human beings. He has an unusual sensitivity and unique perspective on beautiful things:

The image of a laborer, a plough on a piece of cultivated land, a beach, ocean and sky are all important objects of description; these are not easy to draw, but they are all beautiful at the same time; it is really worth to be engaged in expressing the poetry hidden in them all one's life.

I think a painter must be a poet, but his expression tool is not words, but