Painting's journey reveals humanity's complex facets.
If you've ever felt captivated by the mysterious aura that surrounds a piece of art, "Girl in Hyacinth Blue" is for you. Susan Vreeland skillfully intertwines the past and present, reflecting on the profound impact art can have on various lives across centuries. Each story surrounding this painting is a brushstroke in an elaborate canvas, painting how beauty and humanity persist despite adversity. It’s a compelling voyage through time, and with every page, you might find a bit of yourself within the colors of this literary masterpiece.
ISBN: 9781878448903
Authors:
Susan Vreeland
Publisher: MacMurray & Beck
Date of Publication: 1999-09-01
Format: Hardcover
Related Topics:
Historical Romance,
Feminism,
Race,
Japanese Literature,
World War II,
Asian Literature,
Literature
Goodreads rating: 3.74
(rated by 39893 readers)
Description
A Dutch painting of a young girl, possibly a Vermeer, survives three and a half centuries through loss, flood, anonymity, secrecy, theft, even the Holocaust. This is the story of its sometimes desperate owners whose lives are influenced by its seductive beauty and mystery, and whose defining moments take place in its presence. Despite their unsatisfied longings, their own and others' flaws, the girl in hyacinth blue has the power to generate love in all its human variety. The German-American son of the Nazi who looted it from a Jewish home in Amsterdam in 1942 hides it out of shame for his father's atrocities, loves it with awe and passion, wrestles with moral questions of unlawful ownership and his own responsibilities of penance and restitution, and, like his father, ultimately fails as a human being. The rest of the eight stories which make up this composite novel move back in time to the Renaissance. In each episode, the painting figures in casual affairs, natural catastrophe, flawed marriages, domestic violence, a murder, a hanging, yet in spite of these dreary circumstances, the power of beauty and art elevates the characters in individual, subtle ways.
Condition guide
Book Condition Guide
Books in Like New Condition
This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Very Good Condition
This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Good Condition
We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Well Read Condition
This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Find out more about our process here.
Availability
Quantity selected exceeds current stock
Thanks for signing up for restock notifications!
There was an error signing up for restock notifications. Please try again.
Be the first to know when we restock this title!
Notify Me
Adding product to your cart
You may also like
Painting's journey reveals humanity's complex facets.
If you've ever felt captivated by the mysterious aura that surrounds a piece of art, "Girl in Hyacinth Blue" is for you. Susan Vreeland skillfully intertwines the past and present, reflecting on the profound impact art can have on various lives across centuries. Each story surrounding this painting is a brushstroke in an elaborate canvas, painting how beauty and humanity persist despite adversity. It’s a compelling voyage through time, and with every page, you might find a bit of yourself within the colors of this literary masterpiece.
You may also like
You may also like
You may also like
By completing this form, you are signing up to receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any time.