Study for 'Romans parisiens', 1888
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Oil on Canvas, 53 x 73.2 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
(Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
F 358

This picture is a study for a slightly larger work which Van Gogh named Romans parisiens (Parisian novels). Vincent was an admirer of such French Naturalist writers as Emile Zola and Guy de Maupassant. In his opinion, these authors SÀpaint? life SÀas we ourselves feel it.? The books in this painting symbolised the contemporary life that he believed to have been captured so well by these authors.