Gate in the Paris ramp, 1886
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Pencil, pen in brown ink, transparent and opaque watercolour, on wove paper, 24 x 32 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
(Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
F 1401

In Paris Van Gogh was inspired by the impressionistà light palette and the neo-impressionistà colour contrasts. His dark-toned drawings from his Dutch period made way for bright experiments in contrasting colours. The Artist’s new palette is evident in this representation of the Porte de Clichy, one of the entrances through the 30 kilometre long ramparts and walls that still surrounded Paris when Van Gogh lived there. During the summer of 1887 he produced four watercolours of these city defences.