Artquakes started as the story of one man's battle to get a sensible opinion from the 'art establishment' on the painting Two Diggers, which is confirmed by a number of renowned Van Gogh scholars and experts to be an early painting by Vincent van Gogh.

Eight years of intensive research and support from internationally renowned van Gogh experts transform this story into a book lifting the veil on the many 'missing van Goghs' waiting to 'come in from the cold' and many fake van Goghs fighting expulsion from the oeuvre of Vincent van Gogh. It highlights shortcomings in the management of this oeuvre and the seamier side of the art world is glimpsed.

The book may be controversial as it deals with the cut and thrust of the rival parties, the art establishment versus the experts and scholars who are in disagreement with it. Hence the title: Artquakes. It will certainly cause a few stirs in some quarters but, more importantly, hopefully it will contribute towards purifying the canon of a great artist.

Artquakes is a compelling read for all those wishing to look beyond the exhibition rooms of museums, and for all those interested in learning how important works of art in national as well as in private collections can sometimes be treated in deciding their authenticity.

It provides essential and important revelations not only for lovers of van Gogh but also for students of art and art history in general.

The author ends with a plea to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam for more open debate when authenticity is in doubt, more emphasis on the quality of paintings themselves - and less establishment arrogance.

(The book has over 90 colour reproductions of genuine and fake van Goghs.)

The foreword is by Dr Jan Hulsker, the world renowned authority on van Gogh and author of the latest catalogue raisonné: The New Complete Van Gogh; and many other important titles on this artist.

Foreword

To many readers this book will come as a surprise. It certainly is astonishing that the author, Bouwe Jans, could have discovered a so far unknown painting of Twee Spitters (Two Diggers) by Vincent Van Gogh at an auction somewhere in the Netherlands.

However it must be considered a still greater surprise that the author should have had the greatest difficulty in convincing the so-called 'establishment' - the staff of the Van Gogh Museum and closely associated experts - of the validity of his find.

Bouwe Jans' tale epitomizes the frustration of scholars and other researchers (who sometimes even are derided as 'amateurs') , but who open-mindedly come forward with new findings.

Jan Hulsker
Victoria BC, July 2001

Two Diggers Oil on canvas 470 x 610 mm