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Date : 1889
Sizes : 61 cm x 47 cm
Material : Oil on canvas
Acquisition : On loan from a private collection
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French Painting
Painting (Still Life)
Area related
Arles (France)
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| Description |  |
After his release from hospital in Arles in January 1889, Van Gogh embarked on a series of still lifes, including crab studies. This painting may show the same crab upright and on its back. Parallel strokes sculpt the creature's form on an exuberant sea-like surface.
On 7 January van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo : "I am going to set to work again tomorrow. I shall start by doing one or two still lifes to get used to painting again".
He was probably also inspired by a woodcut by Hokusai, "Crabs", which was reproduced in the May 1888 issue of "Le Japon Artistique", sent to Vincent by Theo in September of that year.
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