Vincent Van Gogh. Paintings. Volume 2. Antwerp and Paris, 1885-1888

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is the custodian of more than 200 paintingsby Vincent Van Gogh - the largest and most representative collection in the world.This is the second volume in a series of detailed collection catalogues, which provide a unique opportunity to study and enjoy a selection of the beautiful paintings which form part of this premier collection.Addressing the periods Van Gogh spent in Antwerp and Paris, 93 paintings are the focus of this book - famous self-portraits,flower paintings and views of Montmartre are among the images which feature.The works reveal how, within a relatively brief period, Van Gogh turned from realist painter with an idealistic message, into a true modernist who aimed to build on the achievements of the Impressionists. In this he drew inspiration from a wide range of influences, such as the Provençal artist Adolphe Monticelli, the (neo)-Impressionist movement and Japanese graphic art. Addressing these developments, the text also considers at length the changes in Van Gogh's use of materials, which so exemplified his love of experiment and his quest for technical diversity. Including a wealth of complementary works by Van Gogh (around 100) and other artists,which create a rich and colorful context to the work central to the volume, this publication combines outstanding imagery with first-class scholarship to create an invaluable resource.