Catalogue of the Van Gogh Museum's Collection of Japanese Prints

When Japan opened its doors to the outside world in the middle of the nineteenth century, its art and culture would almost immediately enjoy the interest of writers such as the De Goncourt brothers. The influence of these writers on Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries can be considered profound. Van Gogh became so fascinated by Japanese art that he compiled a collection of Japanese prints in Antwerp in 1886. He added to this collection during his years spent in Paris and organised two exhibitions of them. Van Gogh then passed on his enthusiasm to such painters as Gauguin, Anquetin and Bernard. The use of brightly coloured surfaces with dark contours in their work and that of Van Gogh (also known as 'cloisonism') is directly traceable to Japanese examples. Van Gogh developed an idealistic view of Japanese society in which simplicity, harmony and mutual solidarity would lead to a state of peace and happiness.