How Van Gogh’s love affair with Japan changed art history

Abigail R. Esman, CNN
4 minute read
Published 7:01 AM EDT, Thu March 22, 2018
Both the subject and style of Van Gogh's 1890 painting "Almond Blossom" nod to the traditions of Japanese printmaking.
Both the subject and style of Van Gogh's 1890 painting "Almond Blossom" nod to the traditions of Japanese printmaking.
Courtesy Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam/Vincent van Gogh Foundation
"Courtesan (after Eisen)" (1887) shows Van Gogh's use of the bold colors and outlines found in Japanese woodblock prints.
"Courtesan (after Eisen)" (1887) shows Van Gogh's use of the bold colors and outlines found in Japanese woodblock prints.
Courtesy Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam/Vincent van Gogh Foundation
Van Gogh's "Bridge in the Rain (after Hiroshige)" (1887) was based on a print by Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige. Japanese characters can be seen around the painting's border.
Van Gogh's "Bridge in the Rain (after Hiroshige)" (1887) was based on a print by Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige. Japanese characters can be seen around the painting's border.
Courtesy Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam/Vincent van Gogh Foundation
Van Gogh painted his own version of a Japanese-style print -- complete with snowy mountaintop and brightly dressed geishas -- in the background of his famous "Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear" (1889).
Van Gogh painted his own version of a Japanese-style print -- complete with snowy mountaintop and brightly dressed geishas -- in the background of his famous "Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear" (1889).
Courtesy The Samuel Courtauld Trust/The Courtauld Gallery, London
One of Van Gogh's best-known paintings, "The Bedroom" (1888), was influenced by the flattened perspective often found in Japanese prints.
One of Van Gogh's best-known paintings, "The Bedroom" (1888), was influenced by the flattened perspective often found in Japanese prints.
Courtesy Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam/Vincent van Gogh Foundation
"La Crau with Peach Trees in Blossom" (1889) features snow-capped mountains, a motif common in Japanese art at the time.
"La Crau with Peach Trees in Blossom" (1889) features snow-capped mountains, a motif common in Japanese art at the time.
Courtesy The Samuel Courtauld Trust/The Courtauld Gallery, London
According to a letter Van Gogh wrote to his brother, he reshaped his eyes in this 1888 self-portrait to give himself the appearance of a Japanese monk.
According to a letter Van Gogh wrote to his brother, he reshaped his eyes in this 1888 self-portrait to give himself the appearance of a Japanese monk.
Courtesy Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Cambridge, MA
Van Gogh painted "The Arlésienne: Marie Ginoux" in 1888, during a period when Japanese influences were especially evident in his work.
Van Gogh painted "The Arlésienne: Marie Ginoux" in 1888, during a period when Japanese influences were especially evident in his work.
Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Van Gogh incorporated many elements of Japanese art into his work, including strong outlines, bold colors and the absence of shadows, as seen in "Woman Rocking the Cradle (Augustine Roulin)" (1889).
Van Gogh incorporated many elements of Japanese art into his work, including strong outlines, bold colors and the absence of shadows, as seen in "Woman Rocking the Cradle (Augustine Roulin)" (1889).
Courtesy The Art Institute of Chicago, Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection
"Undergrowth with Two Figures" (1890) is part of a series of paintings of trees and undergrowth created by Van Gogh between 1887 and 1890.
"Undergrowth with Two Figures" (1890) is part of a series of paintings of trees and undergrowth created by Van Gogh between 1887 and 1890.
Courtesy Cincinnati Art Museum
Van Gogh is known to have admired Katsushika Hokusai's "Under the Wave of Kanagawa" (1829-1833).
Van Gogh is known to have admired Katsushika Hokusai's "Under the Wave of Kanagawa" (1829-1833).
Courtesy Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
"Fuji Seen from the Katakura Tea Plantation in the Suruga Province" (1831-1835) by Katsushika Hokusai.
"Fuji Seen from the Katakura Tea Plantation in the Suruga Province" (1831-1835) by Katsushika Hokusai.
Courtesy Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
"Lake Chuzenji in Shimotsuke Province" (1859-1861) by Utagawa Hiroshige, an artist whose work Van Gogh often reproduced.
"Lake Chuzenji in Shimotsuke Province" (1859-1861) by Utagawa Hiroshige, an artist whose work Van Gogh often reproduced.
Courtesy Nationaal Museum voor Wereldculturen, Leiden
Hiroshige's 1857 painting "Plum Garden at Kamata" appears in the Van Gogh Museum's new exhibition "Van Gogh & Japan."
Hiroshige's 1857 painting "Plum Garden at Kamata" appears in the Van Gogh Museum's new exhibition "Van Gogh & Japan."
Courtesy Nationaal Museum voor Wereldculturen, Leiden
How Van Gogh's love affair with Japan changed art history