Van Gogh & Japan

‘We wouldn’t be able to study Japanese art, it seems to me, without becoming much happier and more cheerful’

Vincent van Gogh discovered Japanese colour woodcuts (ukiyo-e) during his time in Paris, an encounter that would have a decisive impact on the development of his art in the years that followed. He bought hundreds of the prints at once and was soon captivated by their colourful and cheerful imagery and style. Gradually this enchanted world became Van Gogh’s main artistic reference point. From this moment on, he positioned himself as an artist in the Japanese tradition to establish his reputation among the avantgarde of the day.

This publication offers a detailed exploration of the influence Japanese printmaking had on Van Gogh’s creative output.