Paris, 1886–1887

Montmartre, Asnières and the Seine — two years of impressionist company that took the brown out of the palette.

Two years living with his brother Theo, and the only period in which he was surrounded by other painters. He saw impressionist colour and Japanese prints at close range, painted Montmartre and the river at Asnieres, and used flowers and his own face as the cheapest available way to practise. The brown leaves the palette here and does not come back.