Focus on this artwork and discuss the Japonaiserie and Impressionism.
In a letter to Theo dated 5 June 1888, Vincent remarked,About staying in the south, even if it’s more expensive—Look, we love Japanese painting, we’ve experienced its influence—all the Impressionists have that in common—[so why not go to Japan], in other words, to what is the equivalent of Japan, the south? So I believe that the future of the new art still lies in the south after all.In a letter of July 1888 he referred to the Impressionists as the "French Japanese".