File 2123 - Reading notes on Vincent van Gogh: Paris - Auvers

1.5 cm of textual records

Nouwen most likely had these four volumes of reading notes bound at one of three possible times: either during his retreat from February to September in 1979 at the Abbey of the Genesee or during his July - September 1981 or his March - June 1982 retreat to the Abbey following his resignation from Yale.

File consists of a bound volume of handwritten reading notes by Nouwen on Vincent van Gogh. This is volume II of IV. Nouwen has designated this volume as "Paris- Auvers". These handwritten reading notes consist of detailed biographical notes of van Gogh's artistic and spiritual experiences of the years 1886-1889. Nouwen appears to have organised references in van Gogh's correspondence under subject headings such as "God", "Moods", "Painting", "Solidarity", etc.

Title based on contents of the file.
This file has been dated according to the probable date of binding, as it is unclear as to when Nouwen first began researching van Gogh, nor his research methodology.
The reading notes appear to be written on the same stock of paper with curved corners which also contains a distinct five ring hole punch pattern.
There is a library spine label on this bound volume: ND 1230 .G6N68, and bound volume contains a "Genesee Abbey Library" stamp on the title page.

Nouwen did a considerable amount of personal research into the life and religious development of the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, it seems particularly during his holidays, sabbaticals and spiritual retreats at the Abbey of the Genesee , The Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research in Collegeville, Minnesota, and other monastic centres throughout the 1970s.

Revised by L Joson, 13 November 2018