It takes a while before Vincent van Gogh can appreciate Impressionism, but once it grows on him, he experiments passionately with the style. He adopts elements that intrigue him. Impressionism helps him to find a style completely his own.
First Masterpiece
In Brabant in the spring of 1885, Vincent puts the finishing touches to his first masterwork: The Potato Eaters. Five figures ‘in earth colours’ sit at a dining table in the dim light of a gas lamp. He sends the work to his brother Theo, who lives in Paris. Theo is Vincent’s highest-ranking advisor. He sees Impressionism gaining popularity in Paris, and encourages Vincent to make his paintings lighter and more colourful. But Vincent doesn’t really understand what his brother means.
Vincent van Gogh, The Potato Eaters, 1885
That is not surprising, as at the time, hardly anyone in the Netherlands has heard of Impressionism. Vincent lives with his family in the countryside, where there is very little art. It’s only once he moves in with Theo in Paris in 1886 that Vincent sees the Impressionist paintings with his own eyes… and he doesn’t like what he sees.
Bitterly disappointed
Vincent writes to his sister Willemien: ‘…people have heard of the Impressionists, they have great expectations of them... and when they see them for the first time they’re bitterly, bitterly disappointed and find them careless, ugly, badly painted, badly drawn, bad in colour, everything that’s miserable. That was my first impression, too, when I came to Paris…’. But Vincent would change his tone…
Vincent experiments
Perhaps it’s like your first ever cup of coffee: it’s a flavour sensation that most people have to get used to. By the time that Vincent starts to experiment with brighter and more colourful painting in Paris, the style of the Impressionists is already gaining acceptance. So Vincent is somewhat behind the times…
Vincent also never becomes a pure Impressionist; he combines different sources of inspiration and develops a style of painting completely his own. He uses bright colours in short brushstrokes, and his subjects also change. The toiling peasants in the Netherlands are replaced by cafés and boulevards, the countryside along the Seine and flower still lifes.
These two paintings by Vincent van Gogh were made just three years apart. Quite the difference, don’t you think? On the left is Avenue of Poplars in Autumn, which Vincent made in 1884 in the Netherlands. The painting on the right is Horse Chestnut Tree in Blossom, which he made in 1887 in Paris, after seeing Impressionist artworks.
Vincent van Gogh, Avenue of Poplars in Autumn, 1884
Vincent van Gogh, Horse Chestnut Tree in Blossom, 1887
Working outside in the South of France
After two years in Paris, Vincent moves further into the South of France, taking what he has learned from Impressionism with him. Just like the Impressionists, he often works outside, even at the hottest time of the day or when strong mistral winds are blowing. These extreme weather conditions also physically impact his work, as Vincent notices: he works quicker . ‘Old gold yellow landscapes – done quick quick quick and in a hurry, like the reaper who is silent under the blazing sun, concentrating on getting the job done’.
Vincent van Gogh, Wheatfield with a Reaper, 1889
Their own ideas about colour
The Impressionists heavily influence Vincent’s work, but he goes a step further than purely capturing a fleeting impression (from outside to inside). Vincent increasingly uses colour and brushwork to express emotions and moods (from inside to outside).
Next episode
Thanks to Theo, Vincent is introduced to Impressionism, enabling him to develop the unique style for which he is still renowned. In the next episode, we’ll reveal more about Theo’s role in promoting Impressionism in France and in the Netherlands.