[2][full citation needed] This correspondence lays the foundation for most of what is known about the thoughts and beliefs of the artist.

The narrative of Lust for Life creates origin-stories for many of the artist's famous paintings.

Stone wanted to explain Van Gogh's difficult life and how he began, flourished, and died as a painter.

People close to Van Gogh's life, like Paul Gauguin, are also characters in the novel.

The novel was adapted into a 1956 film of the same name starring Kirk Douglas, which was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning one.