Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Bloeiende Pruimenboomgaard - naar Hiroshige" (in English, "Flowering Plum Orchard - After Hiroshige") is a painting by Vincent van Gogh created in 1887. This painting exemplifies Van Gogh's fascination with Japanese art, particularly ukiyo-e woodblock prints, during his time in Paris.

The composition of "Bloeiende Pruimenboomgaard" is vibrant and teeming with life. The scene depicts a plum tree orchard in full bloom, capturing the ephemeral beauty of spring. The foreground features gnarled plum tree trunks painted in dark, sinuous lines, creating a stark contrast with the delicate, frothy blossoms. The flowers are depicted in shades of soft white and pale pink, evoking a sense of freshness and renewal. Van Gogh's brushstrokes are dynamic and expressive, imparting a sense of movement and vitality to the entire scene.

The background is a tapestry of rich green hues, dappled with yellow to suggest sunlight filtering through foliage. This backdrop provides a lush context against which the plum blossoms stand out brilliantly. Van Gogh’s use of bright and bold colors imparts a joyous and almost otherworldly quality to the work.

The source of inspiration for this piece was a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, a master of the Japanese ukiyo-e style. Hiroshige's original work was part of a series called "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo," which depicted various landscapes and cityscapes of Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Known for his ability to capture the fleeting beauty of nature, Hiroshige's work had a profound influence on many Western artists, including Van Gogh.

The original painting by Vincent van Gogh is housed at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This museum holds the largest collection of Van Gogh's works, providing an unparalleled insight into his life and creative journey.

Van Gogh created "Bloeiende Pruimenboomgaard" during a period when he was exploring new artistic influences and styles. He had moved to Paris in 1886, where he encountered the burgeoning Impressionist movement and the works of artists like Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, and others. This period was crucial in the evolution of Van Gogh's style, where he shifted to brighter color palettes and more experimental techniques.

His fascination with Japanese art is evidenced by several works that either copy or are inspired by Japanese prints. This fascination is part of a broader trend in the late 19th century known as Japonisme, which had a significant impact on European art. Van Gogh was particularly drawn to the simplicity, compositional balance, and vibrant colors of Japanese prints, seeing in them a different approach to depicting nature.

- Van Gogh's Innovative Style: While the composition and subject matter are directly influenced by Hiroshige, Van Gogh’s interpretation employs his signature bold brushwork and intense colors, creating a synthesis of Eastern and Western artistic traditions.
- Emotional Resonance: The painting captures Van Gogh's emotional state during this period. The blooming orchard, with its transient beauty, can be seen as a symbol of hope and renewal amidst the personal and professional struggles Van Gogh faced.
- Cultural Cross-Pollination: This work is a testament to the cross-cultural exchange that enriched Van Gogh's art, blending the serene elegance of Japanese aesthetics with the vigorous expressiveness of Post-Impressionism.

In summary, "Bloeiende Pruimenboomgaard - naar Hiroshige" stands as a significant piece in Van Gogh’s oeuvre, highlighting his stylistic evolution and deep appreciation for Japanese art, while also representing his unique ability to meld diverse influences into a distinct and powerful artistic vision.