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

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is the custodian of more than 200 paintings by Vincent Van Gogh - the largest and most representative collection in the world. This is the second volume in a series of detailed catalogues of those paintings which, alongside the complete catalogue of Van Gogh's drawings, provide a unique opportunity to study and enjoy the works that form part of this premier collection. Covering the period that Van Gogh spent in Antwerp and Paris in the mid 1880s, the book focusses on 93 paintings, among them famous self-portraits, flower paintings and views of Montmartre. They reveal how, within a relatively short time, Van Gogh evolved from a Realist painter with an idealistic message into a true modernist who aimed to build o the achievements of the Impressionists. In doing so he also drew inspiration from a wide range of influences, such as the Provençal artist Adolphe Monticelli, the Neo-Impressionist movement and Japanese graphic art. As they examine these developments, the authors also dwell at length on the changes in Van Gogh's use of materials, which so exemplified his love of experiment and his quest for technical diversity. By including wealth of complementary works by Van Gogh (around 100) and other artists to create a rich and colourful context for the paintings central to this volume, this publication combines outstanding imagery with first-class scholarship to create an invaluable reference resource.