The Influence of Japan on the Work of Van Gogh

Courtesy of Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
Last spring, the Van Gogh museum held an exhibition dedicated to the artist’s Japanese influences. Van Gogh owned a vast collection of ukiyo-e prints (600 to be precise), which had already been put on display back in 1971. These delicately coloured works were a huge source of fascination and inspiration to Van Gogh in his work as a painter.
Van Gogh became so bewitched by their enchanting aesthetic that he positioned himself as an artist from the Japanese tradition even before the term ‘Japanism’ emerged in art criticism in 1872.
His collection of prints had a considerable impact on his career as an artist, as can be seen from his Sower with Setting Sun and Almond blossom, which display the conventions of Japanese works.
Beyond flora, fauna and landscapes, Van Gogh, ever the perfectionist, also took up the techniques seen in Japanese engravings, which were characterised by their flat tints of colour and diagonal lines. Van Gogh thus created a unique style which communicates his enchantment with Japan and his Utopian Japanese ideal.

Courtesy of Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Courtesy of Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Courtesy of Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Courtesy of Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Courtesy of Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
TRENDING
-
'The Spirit of Pleasure', a Glimpse into Eroticism in Japan
From the cult of the samurai to that of geishas and the tightening of conventions, this essay traces the history of hedonism in Japan.
-
Recipe for Ichiraku Ramen from ‘Naruto’ by Danielle Baghernejad
Taken from the popular manga with the character of the same name who loves ramen, this dish is named after the hero's favourite restaurant.
-
Paris, Tokyo: Robert Compagnon
With his co-chef and talented wife, Jessica Yang, Robert Compagnon opened one of the top new restaurants in Paris: Le Rigmarole.
3:31 -
Hot Springs Through the Lens of Mark Edward Harris
In 'The Way of the Japanese Bath', the American photographer compiles his images of 'onsen' captured in Japan since 1992.
-
Gaijin Paris, the Vintage Boutique Specialising in Japanese Fashion
In the heart of Paris, Thomas Robert and Chahine Bettat offer a selection of trendy pieces by the biggest Japanese designers.