Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: Along the Seine

In the late 19th century, avant-garde artists in Asnières, a suburb of Paris, explored innovative representations of industry and leisure. The artists, including Van Gogh, Seurat, Signac, Bernard, and Angrand, were drawn to Asnières due to its convenient transportation system and picturesque landscape. They sought to capture the contrast between leisure and work in their paintings, employing new motifs, styles, and techniques. This exhibition, featuring scholarly essays and a map of the artists' locations, offers an in-depth look at their work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2023
Publisher: Yale University Press

From 1881 to 1890, a group of avant-garde artists chose Asnières, a suburb of Paris, as a hub for artistic experimentation. Situated on the banks of the Seine, Asnières gained popularity among Parisians due to its recreational offerings, including aquatic sports and festivals, which began in the 1850s with the arrival of new train stations and bridges. This convenient transportation system lured Parisians to explore distant destinations like Argenteuil and Bougival, resulting in the river scenes captured by Impressionists such as Monet and Renoir. Simultaneously, the idyllic landscape of Asnières juxtaposed with the emerging factories on the opposite side of the river. Focusing on the interplay between leisure and work, these avant-garde artists sought to capture the essence of this modern landscape through innovative motifs, styles, and techniques that pushed their artistic boundaries. This captivating volume, adorned with stunning illustrations, provides an in-depth exploration of the artwork created by these artists at Asnières. It includes scholarly essays on each artist, along with a detailed map that outlines the locations where they painted.

The Art Institute of Chicago will host an exhibition featuring the works of these artists from May 14 to September 4, 2023. Subsequently, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam will showcase their creations from October 13, 2023, to January 14, 2024.

Weight: 1238g
Dimension: 228 x 288 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300269765