Van Gogh among the Philosophers

This volume brings Continental philosophical interpretations of Van Gogh into dialogue with one another to explore how for Van Gogh, art places human beings in their world, and yet in other ways displaces them, not allowing them to belong to that world.

“Once the veneer of global commodification has been scraped away, Van Gogh reemerges in his startling innovation and brilliance. His philosophical reception perspicaciously attests to this, from Jasper's groundbreaking philosophical and psychiatric case study to Bataille's short essays to the scattered but striking comments by Foucault and Merleau-Ponty to short studies by Artaud and Altizer. It most famously plays out in the epic battle between Heidegger and Derrida over the ownership of a pair of shoes. This underreported history animates this exceptional and welcome collection of essays.”

Once the veneer of global commodification has been scraped away, Van Gogh reemerges in his startling innovation and brilliance. His philosophical reception perspicaciously attests to this, from Jasper’s groundbreaking philosophical and psychiatric case study to Bataille’s short essays to the scattered but striking comments by Foucault and Merleau-Ponty to short studies by Artaud and Altizer. It most famously plays out in the epic battle between Heidegger and Derrida over the ownership of a pair of shoes. This underreported history animates this exceptional and welcome collection of essays. -- Jason Wirth, Professor of Philosophy, Seattle University
This volume provides us with valuable insights about Van Gogh by way of his most interesting interpreters—Jaspers, Bataille, Heidegger, Foucault, and others.  It will be a touchstone for future studies about the possibilities of painting. -- Matthias Bormuth, University of Oldenburg
This fine collection on Van Gogh and philosophy, superbly edited by David Nichols, is a welcome and timely contribution to issues in aesthetics and the philosophy of art, which will be of interest to a broad range of scholars. Beyond the diversity and originality of the chapters, the overall quality is exemplary. The result is a collection that is not only philosophically edifying but also a pleasure to engage with. -- Dylan James Trigg, University of Vienna
Van Gogh among the Philosophers is an outstanding study of the influence of Van Gogh on some of the most prominent creative thinkers of the 20th century, especially Jaspers and Heidegger.  Jaspers and Heidegger rather embodied Isaiah Berlin’s comments on the Fox and the Hedgehog, the former, Jaspers, who knew a little about a lot, and the latter, Heidegger, who knew a lot about a little. -- Alan M. Olson, Boston University
Very well edited and informative, Van Gogh among the Philosophers is deeply respectful of Van Gogh's work. It is, at the same time, a beautiful contribution to the philosophy of art as well as to philosophical readings of Van Gogh. -- Frédéric Seyler, DePaul University

David P. Nichols is associate professor of philosophy at Saginaw Valley State University.

This volume brings Continental philosophical interpretations of Van Gogh into dialogue with one another to explore how for Van Gogh, art places human beings in their world, and yet in other ways displaces them, not allowing them to belong to that world.

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