Eastern and Western philosophy and practice in van Gogh's painting

Vincent van Gogh was part of the late 19th century Japonisme movement. Much has been written about the influence of Japanese ukiyo-e prints and idealized descriptions of Japan, its culture, and religion on van Gogh's work. Using sources such as Loti's Madame Chrysantheme and the artist's letters, this study examines what van Gogh knew and thought about Japan, to what degree he was influenced by Japanese art, and whether he subscribed to Eastern philosophy. This study argues that although van Gogh expressed great enthusiasm for Japanese art and philosophy, he adopted some stylistic elements and techniques only to express his own unique vision; moreover, he retained fundamentally European Christian beliefs, which can be observed in his The Starry Night (1889), Night Cafe (1888), and two 1889 studies, Wheatfield with a Reaper, and Wheatfield with a Reaper and Sun.