The Art, Life, and Letters of Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh’s own words offer deep insights into his paintings. Through almost two decades of letters, senior lecturer David Gariff explores Van Gogh’s references to specific paintings, his broader views on art, life, religion, and nature, and his aspirations as an artist.

Modernist Visions is a four-part lecture series about the bold transformation of modern art at the turn of the 20th century. Upending the traditional idea of art as a “mirror of reality,” artists grappled with profound questions: What is the purpose of painting? What can it truly express?

We’ll explore how Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Georges Seurat redefined the possibilities of painting. Their radical approaches paved the way for the next generation, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Arshile Gorky, to continue innovating and shaping the course of modern art.