35
The Stevedores, 1888
I saw a magnificent and very strange effect this evening. A very large boat laden with coal on the Rhône, moored at the quay... . On the boat, small workmen... were coming and going, carrying the cargo ashore. It was pure Hokusai. Van Gogh's description of a scene that reminded him of the celebrated Japanese printmaker later resulted in this remarkable picture. The sunset is captured in orange, yellow and turquoise streaked with lilac.
Oil on canvas
Private collection