Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: Along the Seine ed. by Gerritse Bregje and Jacquelyn N. Coutré (review)

Reviewed by: Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: Along the Seine ed. by Gerritse Bregje and Jacquelyn N. Coutré Catherine Gaughan Bregje, Gerritse and Jacquelyn N. Coutré, eds. Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: Along the Seine. Yale UP, 2023. ISBN 978-0-300-26976-5. Pp. 207. This book is a stunning compilation of paintings and analyses spanning a period that encouraged pioneering work and launched career-changing ideas of avant-garde artists, including Van Gogh, Seurat, Signac, Bernard, and Angrand, who all chose to paint in the same area on the outskirts of Paris on the River Seine. Demonstrating both in words and images the considerable contributions of these artists through their works, such as "Signac in Asnières: The Formative Years" and "Angrand: Expressive Harmonies from Saint-Ouen and Asnières to Courbevoie" or the aptly-titled "Postcards along the Seine," the catalogue illuminates the profound transformation of Paris primarily as a result of industrialization that ultimately inspired these artists to develop innovative motifs, styles, and techniques. The striking color paintings throughout come from diverse sources, including art galleries, and public and private collections, and are part of two concurrent exhibitions at The Art Institute of Chicago (May 14–September 4, 2023) and at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam (October 13, 2023–January 14, 2024). Moreover, the director's foreword provides a deeper understanding of the project, outlining the artists' motivations to venture to the unassuming suburbs northwest of Paris and pursue new terrains for their modern painting style. Carefully annotated together with various maps, the book explores the distinction between the city and the suburbs, from Courbevoie to Asnières known for its beautiful villas and leisure activities, as well as La Grande Jatte whose guinguettes offered a festive dining experience. Additionally, the book examines the ways in which these communities inspired the artists to tackle themes of modernization, experimentation, and engagement. The well-balanced commentaries discuss the growing modernism of their painting practices, notably broken brushstrokes, strong outlines, and stark color contrasts, which would inspire generations of artists to come and change the trajectory of modern art. Concluding with a chronology from 1880 to 1891 detailing this decade of artistic experimentation followed by the artists' biographies, Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde is essential to any modern art aficionado's collection as the book itself is not only a work of art but also includes analyses that impart a deeper understanding of the undeniable impact the vibrant landscape of the Parisian suburbs exerted in the late nineteenth century and beyond. [End Page 108] Catherine Gaughan Toronto Metropolitan University (Ontario, Canada) Copyright © 2024 American Association of Teachers of French

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