Ode to Johanna van Gogh-BongerStrength, vision and undeniable influence on the art world
Jo van Gogh Bonger in 1889, photo by Woodbury Page Collectie Geheugen van Nederland
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Dear Jo,
It was your ambition to put the man Vincent van Gogh and his art on the map so that his work received the attention it deserved. Your husband Theo started by encouraging and supporting his brother in his artistry. You not only completed that, but brought it to a great success that Vincent himself would never have dreamed of.
Your strength, vision and undeniable influence on the art world continue to inspire us. Through your efforts, Vincent's work lives on and reaches millions of visitors worldwide. As a wife, mother and businesswoman, you contributed to our collective culture with complete dedication and foresight. You persevered in a world that was not always ready for your determination and drive. It touches me how, as a woman in a man's world, you pushed boundaries to secure Vincent's legacy.
“It touches me how you, as a woman in a man's world, pushed boundaries to secure Vincent's legacy.”
Your legacy shows what clear direction, courage and perseverance can bring about. That determination to stay true to your ideals and make your dreams concrete, even in the face of adversity, are a source of comfort, hope and inspiration to many.
Modern-day Amsterdam, the city where you were born and raised, will celebrate its 750th anniversary next year. Even 100 years after your dying day, your story is relevant and we use it with the project 'I am Jo' to help women of today's Amsterdam discover their own strength so that they too can follow their passion.
Jo, your story, like that of Vincent van Gogh, is still very much alive. How grateful we are to you!
Emilie Gordenker
Director, van Gogh Museum
Period
1862– 1925
About
Ode by Emilie Gordenker to Jo Bonger.
It was your ambition to put the man Vincent van Gogh and his art on the map so that his work received the attention it deserved. Your husband Theo started by encouraging and supporting his brother in his artistry. You not only completed that, but brought it to a great success that Vincent himself would never have dreamed of.
