A foremost influence of Vincent Van Gogh was French Romantic Realist Artist Jean-Francois Millet. In fall and winter 1889–90, while a voluntary patient at the asylum in Saint-Rémy and lacking subjects to paint in his confinement, Van Gogh painted twenty-one copies after Millet. He considered his copies "translations" akin to a musician's interpretation of a composer's work. He let the black-and-white images pose "as a subject," then he would "improvise color on it." His brother, Theo, had sent him the photograph of this particular Millet, to which Van Gogh answered:
Ah, now certainly you are yourself deep in nature, since you say that Jo already feels her child move--it is much more interesting even than landscapes, and I am very glad that things should have changed so for you.
How beautiful that Millet is, “A Child's First Steps"!
While Van Gogh was envisioning his color copies as a series, it's arguable that First Steps had a special significance at the time because of the upcoming birth of his nephew to his brother Theo and sister-in-law Johanna.
First Steps remains one of Van Gogh's most admired works. The intimate family scene has a universal appeal and the harmonious color scheme would be typical of Van Gogh's final paintings. The subject may have spoken to Vincent on several levels: a passionate admiration for the great master Millet, delight at the impending birth of his nephew, and perhaps a sense of regret for a family life that Vincent had long hoped for, but never attained.
Product Description
- Real handcrafted canvas prints produced and hand-stretched in California.
- UV-resistant colors, real wood frame (Non-MDF), Solvent-free Ink -- odorless and can be used by someone with allergies and kids' rooms.
For giclee printing, the canvas used to actually print the final piece are always of archival quality.
- Acid free
- 100% cotton base
- Museum-quality pieces printed -- non-fading vibrant, saturated colors, for up to 80-100 years.
Surface varnished with Semi-Gloss Acrylic Coating to enhance appearance: brushstrokes are more clearly defined, details more apparent, and colors more vibrant. The coating also protects and preserves the artwork from dirt and dust, extending its lifetime and keeping it from fading.
Brand Quality: production from one of the world's leading wall decor manufacturers, DecorArts, a registered Trademark.
Made in the USA.
