Exploring Montmartre Through Van Gogh's Paintings

Vincent van Gogh spent two years in Paris from 1886, living with his brother Theo and studying under Fernand Cormon while mingling with artists like Monet, Gauguin, and Pissarro. His time in Montmartre was formative, and his paintings of the area—such as The Hill of Montmartre with Stone Quarry, View of Paris, Agostina Segatori Sitting in Le Café du Tambourin, Boulevard de Clichy, View of Paris from Vincent's Room in the Rue Lepic, and Entrance to the Moulin de la Galette—document the village's rural and urban sides. The Café du Tambourin, owned by Agostina Segatori, was a hub where artists traded paintings for food. Van Gogh's style evolved from darker tones to brighter colors and flatter shapes influenced by Japanese Ukiyo-e and Pointillism. Many locations, including Rue Caulaincourt, the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, and the Moulin de la Galette (now a restaurant), remain visitable today.