Van Gogh & Japan: the influence of Japanese art on the work of Vincent van Gogh

Based on new research, the authors revise current thinking on Van Gogh: he did not purchase the prints in Paris for pleasure, the common assumption up until now, but instead acquired the prints with a view to trading them. The book also reveals how the vivid Japanese woodcuts by artists including Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Kunisada became one of the most powerful, creative sources of inspiration behind Van Gogh’s work, and how they played a pivotal role in his artistic direction.

Alongside the book, the Van Gogh Museum is launching an online overview of the complete collection of prints. The missing works from Van Gogh’s collection of Japanese prints are a spectacular addition to this overview. The Museum has tracked down 50 works in private and museum collections, which have never before been on public display, and now unites them online with the museum collection. Even better, the prints are available for download for free as high-quality, high-resolution colour images.

At the symposium Van Gogh & Japan, held at the Van Gogh Museum on 6 and 7 June, various experts will discuss subjects including Japonisme, primitivism and Van Gogh’s collection of Japanese prints. The book, website and symposium together compliment the popular exhibition Van Gogh & Japan, which uses more than 100 artworks to explore how Japanese art influenced the life and work of Vincent van Gogh.