Van Gogh may have been a little on the strange side, but this changes nothing about the fact that he was a brilliant artist whose perspective, communicated through his vivid and colorful paintings, continues to captivate and intrigue visual artists, historians, and even those who are just curious. Learning about the man behind the colorful paintings has never been easier thanks to Norman Beaupre, who delivers to us The Boy with the Blue Cap: Van Gogh in Arles.
This wonderfully written story gives readers a verbal portrait of Van Gogh during his time painting in the town of Arles. And though the story itself is not an accurate historical depiction of this time in Van Gogh's life, it is sprinkled with elements of the real, as in Van Gogh's relationship with the Postmaster of the region, whose little boy, Camille Roulin, actually tells the story.
The Boy with the Blue Cap is for anyone who takes delight in reading about art, figures from history, or simply enjoys reading well-crafted stories that give us a glimpse into what inspires and motivates genius.