Published : 2025-12-21

„My Dear Sister”: Vincent van Gogh’s Epistolary Lessons of Art

Abstract

The paper presents the letters of Vincent van Gogh—particularly those addressed to his sister Willemien—as a unique educational resource. It highlights van Gogh’s reflections on artistic creation and the philosophy of life. The author analyzes the potential of these letters within the framework of epistolary pedagogy, emphasizing their value as tools for cultural transmission and pedagogical reflection. The paper draws attention to contemporary reinterpretations, such as LEGO® sets inspired by his paintings, which demonstrate the continued educational relevance of van Gogh’s art. The artist’s epistolography emerges here as a model of integrated art—marked by artistic humility, emotional depth, and cognitive self-insight.

Keywords:

Vincent van Gogh, letters, art education, education through art, LEGO®



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Materne, A. (2025). „My Dear Sister”: Vincent van Gogh’s Epistolary Lessons of Art. Biografistyka Pedagogiczna [Biographical Studies in Education], 10(3), 123–144. https://doi.org/10.36578/BP.2025.10.50

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"Biografistyka Pedagogiczna" received funding for the years 2022-2024 from the funds of the Minister of Education and Science under the programme „Rozwój Czasopism Naukowych”.

Project duration: 2023-2024.

The amount of co-financing is 65 992,00 PLN

Contract number: RCN/SP/0434/2021/1