Date : 1889
Dimensions : 61 cm x 47 cm
Material : Oil on canvas
Acquisition : On loan from a private collection
Post-Impressionnistes
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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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Les faux Van Gogh
La vente record (40 millions de dollars au magnat japonais de l'assurance Yasuo Goto) d'un bouquet de tournesols de Vincent Van Gogh, par Christie's le 30 mars 1987, sera à l'origine d'un scandale majeur.
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