Jo van Gogh-Bonger

It is so good; after so many years of public indifference; even hostility towards Vincent and his work; to feel towards the end of my life that the battle is won.' JO VAN GOGH-BONGER TO GUSTAVE COQUIOT; 1922 'It is a sacrifice for the sake of Vincent's glory.' JO VAN GOGH-BONGER ON THE SALE OF 'THE SUNFLOWERS' TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY; UK; 1924 Little known but no less influential; Jo van Gogh-Bonger was sister-in-law of Vincent van Gogh; wife of his brother; Theo. When the brothers died soon after each other; she took charge of Van Gogh's artistic legacy and devoted the rest of her life to disseminating his work. Despite being widowed with a young son; Jo successfully navigated the male-dominated world of the art market-publishing Van Gogh's letters; organizing exhibitions in the Netherlands and throughout the world; and making strategic sales to private individuals and influential dealers-ultimately establishing Van Gogh's reputation as one of the finest artists of his generation. In doing so; she fundamentally changed how we view the relationship between the artist and his work. She also lived a rich and fascinating life-not only was she friends with eminent writers and artists; but she also was active within the Social Democratic Labour Party and closely involved in emerging women's movements. Using rich source material; including unseen diaries; documents and letters; Hans Luijten charts the multi-faceted life of this visionary woman with the drive to shake the art world to its core.