This is a stunning and incredibly colourful portrayal of the Van Gogh brothers and the woman Johanna Bonger who tried to keep it all together in this mad and mesmerising world of artists and dealers. The language is exquisite, the descriptions breathtaking and the comparisons riveting. Caroline Cauchi knows how to capture the reader’s attention with her vivid and original imaginings of what might have happened during the years when Johanna was a part of their lives.
When Johanna’s brother Andries introduces her to the Van Gogh brothers, she is thrust into a bizarre world. Jo originally wants to be an artist but does not have the confidence in her abilities. Her brother tries to help by making connections for her to meet and learn from other artists. He wants her to achieve her dreams but their parents are keen to marry Jo off to an old man of their choosing. This sets Jo on a runaway path to avoid the inevitable. Theo Van Gogh, though, has his eye on Johanna and though she is slow to respond, due to a previous heartbreak, she eventually falls deeply for this brother of Vincent’s. (In some ways, Theo becomes her rescuer in a society that sees women as needing a husband. He just wants her to be herself. ) But becoming involved with one Van Gogh, means being part of the other brother’s life, too. And that presents some heavy challenges and later unexpected surprises.
We are all aware that during Vincent’s lifetime, his art did not draw much attention yet upon his death, things began to take off. Many do not know that it was due to the efforts of Johanna. After Theo’s death, she tried to carry on her husband’s mission: to make Vincent’s art known and appreciated for its striking personal style.
Ms Cauchi delves into the mind of Vincent, his battle with depression, his fierce connection to his brother, but also his love of nature (obvious in his paintings). Vincent felt akin to the raw wild splendour of the natural world. It is where he ‘captured the play of light and shadow on foliage.’ In the personal arena, he certainly is seen as having non-traditional relationships and sometimes humour was his safeguard. This made me think about the fine line between comedy and tragedy. And those with a tragic perspective often use comic relief like an antidote to numb their pain. Some of the saddest people in the world of art and entertainment have been the most successful in the area of comedy. Possibly because it helps them cope with society. The question about Vincent’s life is whether in his last battle he tried to end it or whether he was injured in an accident? There has been much speculation, even that he was protecting someone, possibly a child who may have accidentally shot him. It is hard to say and only Vincent knows.
But this story is more about Johanna and how the view towards independent women in the late 1800s was severe. The torment she endured, the ridicule by jealous onlookers, the struggles she had being caught between the love of two brothers. The portrayal here is that she was a strong woman who carried some heavy burdens, regrets and grief from her loss. Her marriage to Theo was sadly too short but her fierce protection of the child born of their love is triumphantly displayed in this novel. I was so glad Ms Cauchi included the later aspects of her life and that of her son’s.
This is a novel that made my heart ache. I could feel anguish oozing from its pages. My emotions were all over the place. There were moments in the story when I truly did not like Vincent: especially with some of the comments he made in his dialogue. But then his letters provided another side of him. And by the end of the story, I felt as Johanna did. Sad for not understanding his loneliness. Which took me back to my thoughts of him before. I had always felt he had been misunderstood. And his own personal demons took him down strange and turbulent roads. Regardless of his issues, he was a talent that the world would not realise until he was gone. Thanks to Johanna, his artwork became a fascination for art lovers and his work even converted those who may not have been enthusiasts. We see samples of his art now everywhere and it is easily recognisable. Images of his Starry Night and Sunflowers and other scenes and faces are spread on everything from iPad covers to clothing.
A few years ago, I wrote a song lyric Play of Shades for a music composer Alex Grata about Vincent Van Gogh (sung by Lisa Fury) and it seems now my words echo that of the novelist in many ways. (Below is a link to the song and copy of lyrics.) But I want to say while reading this novel, I truly felt the agony and ecstasy of Mrs Van Gogh and Vincent’s profound struggles. As Aristotle once said: ‘there is no great genius without a touch of madness’. True, it seems, in this artist’s case. But knowing or not knowing the person he might have been, does not keep me from appreciating his amazing artwork. The triumph is in the fact that his glorious paintings and drawings are still available for the world to see, thanks in part to this woman’s efforts. Johanna preserved them and persisted to expose these priceless treasures to the world and, as a result, generations have been touched by Vincent Van Gogh’s creative wonder.
I highly recommend Mrs Van Gogh to everyone who loves historical fiction with heart, depth and imagination. It is quite life-changing reading this book. Your perception may be altered. At least, you won’t be able to think of Vincent Van Gogh and his work again without remembering now the woman who helped make this genius artist known.
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK (One More Chapter) and Netgalley for my review copy.
PLAY OF SHADES
(In Memory of Vincent Van Gogh)
(music & arrangement by Alex Grata / lyrics by Cindy L Spear)
(sung by Lisa Fury, mandolin by Guy Manning, art works by Ed Unitsky)
