Sky Arte doc explores Van Gogh's passion for Japan

The documentary 'Van Gogh e il Giappone', directed by David Bickerstaff, airs on Sky Arte on Sunday, March 7. It examines Vincent van Gogh's deep fascination with Japanese culture, which influenced his artistic practice and life choices. Although he never visited Japan, van Gogh was captivated by ukiyo-e woodblock prints and decorative objects that flooded Europe after the end of the Edo period and Japan's opening to the West. The japonisme trend swept the continent, and van Gogh developed a profound passion for Japanese visual culture. The film was shot in Provence, Japan, and at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, focusing on the period after van Gogh left Paris for southern France, seeking new stimuli and a more authentic connection with nature.