Le Moulin de la Galette

In March 1886, Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) moved from Antwerp to Paris to share an apartment with his brother Theo. The better living conditions and being reunited with his brother helped him. Van Gogh met other aspiring painters such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Signac, and Emile Bernard. Along with his brother, van Gogh visited artists' studios, and in November 1887, they met Paul Gauguin, who showed them the vivid and colorful visions of the tropics he had painted during his recent stay in Martinique. From their apartment, in Montmartre in the north of Paris, it was an easy walk to the outskirts of the city. Working outdoors helped Vincent explore the effects of natural light in his work Le Moulin de la Galette (1886). Painted in the Impressionistic style the French tricolour atop the windmill could as easily be the Dutch flag.

In a letter to Charles Angrand dated Monday, 25 October 1886, van Gogh proposed a swap:

54 rue Lepic

Dear Sir,

I’ve spoken to Mr Boggs about the meeting I had with you and if you would like to do an exchange with him be bold about it, because you’ll see fine things at his place and he’ll be very pleased to make your acquaintance.

I also propose myself for an exchange. I happen to have 2 views of the Moulin de la Galette that I could spare.

Hoping to see you one of these days, then, I shake your hand.

Yours truly,
Vincent

Other visitor sights popular with tourists in the Montmartre district include: