Jo Piazza on Jo (pronounced, “Yo”) van Gogh-Bonger, the woman who inherited Vincent’s paintings – at the time, worthless – and turned him into the superstar we know today.
“Her story matters because she’s just one of many women written out of the historical narrative. One of many women who allowed a so-called male genius to break through and become a legend without getting any credit. History is littered with women like Jo whose labor has been so thoroughly erased we mistake their invisible work and unsung contributions for male greatness.”
From wbur.org, The woman who made Vincent van Gogh famous.
Last year, the van Gogh museum in Amsterdam ran an exhibition of her and Isaac Israëls, with whom she shared a lifelong friendship after the death of Vincent and his brother (her husband) Theo. Her story is on their site.