The four preserved sketchbooks of Vincent van Gogh show us how Van Gogh – in his ten-year artistic career - taught himself the trade and made progress. In addition, the beginnings of several famous paintings can be found in the sketchbooks. This special treasure trove of insight into Vincent van Gogh's artistry is hardly ever shown by the Van Gogh Museum because of the sensitivity to light.

To be able to share the sketchbooks with the public, a Dutch team of experts reproduced the books exactly one-on-one. From the stains to the tears and the wear and tear of the elastic, everything was studied and copied down to the smallest detail, so that the facsimiles are almost indistinguishable from the originals. Thanks to these replicas, the museum can still show the sketchbooks to the public and the real enthusiast gets the chance to bring Van Gogh into their home.