This will be the first exhibition in Japan to focus on Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) and Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), two artists of the late 19th century whose paintings are adored throughout the world.
Van Gogh, a Dutch minister’s son, and Gauguin, who spent his early childhood in Peru, differed not only in upbringing and character but also in artistic style. Van Gogh, inspired by the real world around him, created paintings marked by powerful brushwork and bright colors. Gauguin, using decorative lines and color fields, sought to express in paintings a world invisible to the eye. In 1888, they lived together for two months in Arles, southern France. Working side by side and, at times, arguing heatedly, they inspired each’s other creativity.
Through some 60 works—including some 50 oil paintings from every stage of Van Gogh’s and Gauguin’s careers, this exhibition will show the defining characteristics of each artist’s work. By throwing light on the relationship between the two painters, it will reveal the nature of their artistry.