Van Gogh is the artist whose very biography was the history of the development of his artistic personality. Studying the biography and letters of Van Gogh, which formed the main content of this textbook, helps to identify some common factors in the origin, formation and development of an artistic personality. Van Gogh was “self-taught,” but he managed to avoid the dangers that occur on the path of the self-taught. This is one of the most important “lessons” of Van Gogh. The materials in the manual indicate that Van Gogh implemented in his self-study and development the principles and methods that were reflected in the theory and practice of outstanding teachers. This is also the “lesson” of Van Gogh. But the main “lesson” that the reader will learn from the book is that the artist himself was able to develop within himself an internal personal need to think, feel and “speak” in the language of art. The presence in the book of an introductory article, comments, subject index, questions for self-test and abstract topics make it a valuable educational tool for those interested in the life and work of Van Gogh, as well as for everyone who wants to “learn” creativity.