Why it matters
Van Gogh painted the Paris art supplies dealer Julien Tanguy three times; this last version is the most advanced, with Tanguy seated calmly in front of a wall of Japanese prints. It shows how Van Gogh's style blossomed after his move to Paris in 1886.
Did you know?
- The Japanese prints in the background were sold in Tanguy's shop.
- Mount Fuji rises from the top of Tanguy's hat.
- Van Gogh called his use of bright colours 'gymnastics'.
Based on the Wikipedia article Portrait of Père Tanguy (CC BY-SA 4.0).
