The world owes a great debt to Jo van Gogh-Bonger. As the wife of Theo van Gogh, Jo was also a great supporter of Vincent's work during his last few years. After Theo's death Jo tirelessly sought to preserve and honour the great works of her brother-in-law. In addition, she was diligent in organizing and preserving all of the correspondence between Vincent and Theo. It is this correspondence which provides us with the most valuable insights into Vincent's life and art.
As the demand for Vincent's works grew steadily after his death, his paintings became highly sought after. Jo, however, took all efforts to ensure that the works in her possession stayed together and weren't scattered in sales to private dealers all over the world. While Jo could have easily benefited financially from such sales, her first priority was with the conservation of Vincent's works themselves.
It is thanks to these efforts that the Van Gogh Foundation was established in 1962. This, in turn, lead to the construction of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Jo van Gogh-Bonger believed in Vincent and his works when few others did. Her faith has helped to ensure that Vincent's life and his works will never be forgotten.