Bright colors and contrasting patterns imbue the subject of La Mousmé with the energy and intensity of a blossoming flower, much like the oleander she holds in her hand. Not coincidentally, Van Gogh completed this portrait in the same period as his sunflower series. In a letter to his brother Theo, he wrote that portrait studies such as these were "the only thing in painting that excites me to the depths of my soul, and which makes me feel the infinite more than anything else."A "mousemé" is a term for a young Japanese girl that appears in Pierre Loti's Madame Chrysanthème; the story of a naval officer who marries a geisha while stationed in Nagasaki, Japan. Japanese culture had a major influence upon French art during the 19th century, and Van Gogh, an avid collector of Japanese prints, was one of its most important ambassadors.

• Archival Inkjet on Fine Art Paper : Matte Finish, Textured Surface.
• Specialized pigment inks yield rich, lasting color.
• Fine art paper affords much greater detail than canvas.
• White borders leave space for matting and framing.
• Respects the artist's vision - no arbitrary cropping or distortion.

Archival Inkjet on Fine Art Paper : Matte Finish, Textured Surface.Renfield's