Paul Mellon Lecture: Van Gogh and Japan

This lecture focuses on Van Gogh’s work from Paris and the south of France. It investigates how the painter constructed a specific image of Japan, based partly on facts and largely on his imagination, and how this image enabled him to define his own position as a modern artist. The lecture will highlight several major sources of Van Gogh’s inspiration, including Japanese prints, literature, and his ongoing discussions with fellow artists such as Paul Signac, Émile Bernard, and Paul Gaugin.