section_path: Life/Artistic breakthrough/1890 Exhibitions and recognition
section_name: 1890 Exhibitions and recognition
paragraph_text: 1890 Exhibitions and recognition
  
  Albert Aurier praised his work in the Mercure de France in January 1890 and described him as "a genius". In February, van Gogh painted five versions of L'Arlésienne (Madame Ginoux), based on a charcoal sketch Gauguin had produced when she sat for both artists in November 1888. Also in February, van Gogh was invited by Les XX, a society of avant-garde painters in Brussels, to participate in their annual exhibition. At the opening dinner a Les XX member, Henry de Groux, insulted van Gogh's work. Toulouse-Lautrec demanded satisfaction, and Signac declared he would continue to fight for van Gogh's honour if Lautrec surrendered. De Groux apologised for the slight and left the group.
  
  From 20 March to 27 April 1890, van Gogh was included in the sixth exhibition of the Société des Artistes Indépendants in the Pavillon de la Ville de Paris on the Champs-Elysées. Van Gogh exhibited ten paintings. While the exhibition was on display with the Artistes Indépendants in Paris, Claude Monet said that van Gogh's work was the best in the show.