Flowering plum tree, after Hiroshige

A vibrant explosion of color, this painting reimagines a Japanese print by Hiroshige, transforming a delicate woodblock into a bold oil on canvas. The flowering plum tree dominates the composition, its gnarled branches reaching across the frame, laden with blossoms. Van Gogh's distinctive brushwork is evident in the energetic dabs of white and pink that form the flowers, contrasting with the intense blue of the sky and the rich ochre of the ground. This work, painted in 1887, reflects a period when the artist was deeply influenced by Japanese art, drawn to its flattened perspectives and strong outlines. He meticulously copied elements of the original print, but infused them with his own expressive style, creating a bridge between Eastern aesthetics and Western post-impressionism.