The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is the custodian of more than 200 paintings by Vincent Van Gogh - the largest and most representative collection in the world. This is the second volume in a series of detailed paintings collection catalogues which, alongside the complete catalogue of Van Gogh's drawings, provide a unique opportunity to study and enjoy the works that form part of this premier collection.

Covering the periods Van Gogh spent in Antwerp and Paris in the mid-1880s, this book focuses on 93 paintings, which include famous self-portraits, flower paintings and views of Montmartre. The works reveal how, within a relatively brief period, Van Gogh turned from realist painter with an idealistic message into a true modernist who aimed to build on the achievements of the Impressionists. In this he drew inspiration from a wide range of influences, such as the Provencal artist Adolphe Monticelli, the (neo)-Impressionist movement and Japanese graphic art. Addressing these developments, the text also considers at length the changes in Van Gogh's use of materials, which so exemplified his love of experiment and his quest for technical diversity.

Including a wealth of complementary works by Van Gogh (around 100) and other artists, which create a rich and colourful context to the works central to this volume, this publication combines outstanding imagery with first-class scholarship to create an invaluable reference resource.