A metamorphosis in contact with light
At Alpha Reproduction, we believe that every artist goes through decisive transitional periods, moments of tipping where the gaze changes, where the hand is freed, where the style transforms. For Vincent van Gogh, this pivotal moment takes place in Paris, between 1886 and 1888, when he discovers the masters of impressionism.
Until then nourished by the dark realism of Holland, Van Gogh comes into direct contact with artists like Monet, Pissarro, Degas, or Seurat. He observes their vibrant paintings, their light touches, their bright palettes. And little by little, his own painting lightens, colors, and opens up to light.
Far from being a mere imitator, Van Gogh absorbs the essence of Impressionism to better free himself from it. This transition marks a crucial step in the evolution of his style – a short but foundational period that prepares the creative explosion of the Arlesienne and then of Auvers-sur-Oise.
Through this blog, we offer you an understanding of how Van Gogh was influenced by Impressionism, which works testify to this, and why this metamorphosis illuminates his entire career.
🎨 Is Van Gogh an Impressionist or Post-Impressionist painter?
The question often arises among art lovers: Was Van Gogh an Impressionist painter or Post-Impressionist? The answer is not as clear-cut as it seems.
Historically, Van Gogh is classified as a Post-Impressionist artist. This movement includes several painters, active between 1880 and 1910, who, while being influenced by Impressionism, seek to go beyond its limits: they introduce more emotion, structure, symbolism, and subjectivity into their works.
However, Van Gogh experienced a period deeply marked by Impressionism during his stay in Paris between 1886 and 1888. There he discovered a free, modern, bright painting – very different from his Dutch beginnings. He then experimented with light colors, quick brushstrokes, plein air painting, and direct observation of everyday life: all elements typically Impressionist.
But very quickly, he goes further. Van Gogh gives color a new expressive force, uses form to convey deep emotions, and allows a very personal vision of the world to emerge. His painting becomes more troubled, more introspective. That is why he is considered post-impressionist, alongside Gauguin, Cézanne, or Toulouse-Lautrec.
👉 In summary: Van Gogh was influenced by Impressionism, integrated its techniques, but developed a unique language that transcends this movement. His work embodies the transition between the bright modernity of the Impressionists and the emotional strength of modern art.
🌫️ Before Paris: Van Gogh in the Dutch shadow
Before becoming the vibrant and colorful painter associated with pure emotion, Van Gogh evolved in a dark universe, nourished by the misty landscapes of Holland, the coal mines of Borinage, and a painting marked by social realism.
A stark painting, influenced by realism
Between 1880 and 1885, Van Gogh developed a style influenced by Jean-François Millet and the Dutch masters of the 17th century. He painted peasant scenes, still lifes, and portraits of modest workers, as seen in The Potato Eaters (1885).
The palette is earthy, made of browns, ochres, and dark greens. The forms are solid, the faces etched by effort and poverty.
This period reflects a sincere desire to represent the dignity of the working world, but it is still very far from the play of light and vibrant colors of Impressionism.
An inner quest already underway
Despite the roughness of his painting, Van Gogh is already in search of meaning, truth, and inner light. In his letters to his brother Théo, he speaks of his desire to progress, to explore other styles, to meet living artists in Paris. He vaguely feels that his painting must evolve, lighten, express something other than raw reality.
It is this creative dissatisfaction that drives him to leave Antwerp to join Théo in Paris, in February 1886, paving the way for a radical transformation.
🌇 Van Gogh in Paris (1886–1888): the Impressionist revelation
Upon arriving in Paris, Vincent Van Gogh enters another dimension. He leaves behind the dark hues of his beginnings to dive into the artistic abundance of the capital, the beating heart of pictorial modernity.
An immersion in the world of the Impressionists
Upon his arrival, Van Gogh is exposed to a new art, freed from academic constraints. He discovers the canvases of Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, and Georges Seurat. These artists no longer paint religion or mythology, but modern life, with pure colors, visible brushstrokes, and a particular attention to variations of light.
Van Gogh frequents art galleries, visits Impressionist exhibitions, and comes into contact with some of these masters. He observes, learns, and above all, experiments.
The Cormon studio and the freedom of touch
During this period, he follows for a while the courses of Fernand Cormon, an academic painter who runs a studio where Toulouse-Lautrec and Émile Bernard also pass through. While the training is classical, the encounters are decisive.
In his own studio, Van Gogh paints tirelessly. He adopts a freer touch, lightens his palette, and experiments with more modern subjects: flowers, portraits of Parisians, views of Montmartre, colorful still lifes.
The City of Light acts as a catalyst. Van Gogh absorbs Impressionist influences but already retains a intensity that distinguishes him from his contemporaries. His painting becomes brighter, more colorful — but also more expressive, preparing for the upcoming break.
🖼️ Van Gogh's works during the Impressionist period
During his stay in Paris, Van Gogh created nearly 200 canvases, marked by a spectacular evolution of his style. Under the influence of the Impressionists and Neo-Impressionists, he explores color, light, and the liveliness of gesture.
Light colors and vibrant light
His works from this period testify to a profound visual turning point. The palette brightens: browns are replaced by lemon yellows, light blues, soft greens, and bright reds. He also experiments with complementary colors and strong contrasts, inspired notably by Seurat and pointillism.
Among his favorite subjects are floral still lifes, true explosions of color, such as Vase with Peonies, Vase with Carnations or Sunflowers of Paris (1887, not to be confused with those from Arles). He also paints self-portraits in bright light, in which he observes himself with an analytical and increasingly free gaze.
Modern subjects and a vibrant touch
Van Gogh is also passionate about Parisian daily life. He paints the vacant lots of Montmartre, the public gardens, the busy boulevards, but also ordinary characters: bakers, waiters, artist friends. The brushstroke becomes more rapid, more fragmented, evoking movement and the present moment.
He experiments with bold compositions, playing with view angles and tight frames, inherited from Japanese prints, which he collects with enthusiasm.
These Parisian works constitute a visual laboratory, a transitional period where Van Gogh refines the tools that will give birth to his masterpieces in Arles and Auvers-sur-Oise.
🌻 After Paris: towards post-impressionism
In spring 1888, Van Gogh leaves Paris, exhausted by the city, but armed with a new palette and an artistic vision in full transformation. It is in Arles, in the south of France, that he takes a decisive step: that of post-impressionism, a style that goes far beyond the observation of light.
Arles, the explosion of colors
Upon his arrival in Provence, Van Gogh is struck by the light of the South, the golden fields, the intense skies. He wants to create a “Southern studio” and invites Gauguin to join him. There, his painting takes on a whole new dimension: the forms become stylized, the colors become symbolic.
He paints with passion: the blossoming orchards, the Yellow House, the night café, the wheat fields under the mistral. He no longer imitates the Impressionists; he interprets the world. He no longer seeks to capture a moment, but to convey a lasting emotion, an inner vision.
Legacy of the Impressionists in his major paintings
Even as he moves away from their codes, Van Gogh retains from the Impressionists the love of open air, the use of pure color, and the freedom of gesture. But where Monet seeks the changing light on the Seine, Van Gogh seeks to express life, anxiety, joy, or solitude through the very material of painting.
This is what makes him a major post-impressionist: an artist who does not just paint what he sees, but what he feels. A painter of inner light, deeply modern and unique.
🖌️ Impressionist Reproductions of Van Gogh by Alpha Reproduction
At Alpha Reproduction, we offer you the chance to relive the excitement of the Impressionist period of Van Gogh through hand-painted reproductions, made with care and fidelity.
Each painting from this period – whether it is a floral still life, a bright self-portrait, or a colorful view of Montmartre – reflects an exceptional artistic transition, where Van Gogh explores light, color, and movement.
🎨 An exceptional reproduction, true to the spirit of the work
Our reproductions are:
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Painted in oil on canvas, by hand by experienced artists
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Delivered with a certificate of authenticity
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Customizable (sizes, frames, margins)
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Faithful to the original texture, touch, and color palette of Van Gogh
Every detail – from the vibration of the brush to the transparency of the layers – is recreated with artisanal precision, to offer you a work as close as possible to the original.
🏡 Where to display an Impressionist work by Van Gogh?
The paintings from this period lend themselves particularly well to decoration:
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Contemporary, thanks to their bright and invigorating tones
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Refined or Scandinavian, where they bring a touch of controlled color
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Classic, to highlight a timeless artistic continuity
A self-portrait from Paris in an office, a vase of flowers in a dining room, or a landscape of Montmartre in a living room: each piece comes alive with the creative energy of a Van Gogh in full transformation.
❓ FAQ – Van Gogh Impressionist
🔹 Is Van Gogh an Impressionist painter?
Van Gogh is not considered a full-fledged Impressionist, but he went through a period deeply influenced by Impressionism, particularly between 1886 and 1888, in Paris. This is a pivotal stage in his stylistic evolution.
🔹 Which works of Van Gogh are influenced by Impressionism?
His floral still lifes, his colorful self-portraits, and his views of Montmartre are among the most representative. They testify to a lighter palette, a freer touch, and an interest in natural light.
🔹 What is the difference between Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Van Gogh?
Impressionism aims to capture the light of the moment, while Post-Impressionism seeks to express emotion, structure, and inner vision. Van Gogh transitions from one to the other in a few years, retaining color but intensifying expression.
🔹 Where can we see Van Gogh's Impressionist works?
Many works from his Parisian period are preserved at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, but also at the Musée d'Orsay, at the Met (New York), or in private collections.
🔹 Can we order an Impressionist reproduction of Van Gogh?
Yes, at Alpha Reproduction, we create hand-painted reproductions of his works from the Impressionist period. Each canvas is true to the original spirit, ready to enhance your interior.
🛒 Conclusion: Treat yourself to the light of Van Gogh
The Impressionist period of Vincent van Gogh is one of an artist awakening, searching, in full metamorphosis. It captures the moment when color becomes language, when light reveals the soul.
At Alpha Reproduction, we invite you to bring this creative energy into your daily life. With our faithful and artisanal oil reproductions, you can relive that unique moment in the history of art… at home.
👉 Order now your favorite painting by Van Gogh from the Impressionist period, hand-painted, customized to your desires, and delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
🎨 Treat yourself to a fragment of history. Treat yourself to a work that inspires.
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