Fishing in Spring, the Pont de Clichy (Asnières)
Fishing in Spring, the Pont de Clichy (Asnières)
<p>In technique, <em>Fishing in Spring</em> is a testament to Vincent van Gogh’s friendship with <a href="https://www.artic.edu/artists/36695">Paul Signac</a>. Van Gogh had seen works by Signac and <a href="https://www.artic.edu/artists/40810">Georges Seurat</a> in the spring of 1886 at the final Impressionist exhibition. Signac was an eloquent spokesman for Seurat’s pioneering Neo-Impressionism, explaining it as a natural development of Impressionism. Under Signac’s influence, Van Gogh’s palette brightened, his brushstrokes became more varied, and his subject matter expanded. The setting of this work is the Seine River at the Pont de Clichy, near Asnières, where Van Gogh and Signac painted together on several occasions.</p>

The artist’s sister-in-law, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger (died 1925), Amsterdam [this and the following according to records in van Gogh Bonger’s account book, reproduced in Stolwijk and Veenenbos 2000, 47 no. 12/7, 142–43]; probably sent to Ambroise Vollard, Paris, Nov. 1896. Cornelis Hoogendijk (died 1911), The Hague, Netherlands, by 1906; by descent to his sister, Maria Ida Adriana (Riet) van Blaaderen-Hoogendijk (died 1942), Amsterdam, 1911 [Venice 1938]; by descent to her son, Tom van Blaaderen, Laren, 1942 [this and the following according to Wisselingh Stock Book, no. 6858, Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie, The Hague, Netherlands; cited in a letter from Louis van Tilborg, Van Gogh Museum, Feb. 20, 2000]; sold to E. J. Van Wisselingh, Amsterdam, June 24, 1946; sold to Katz Art Gallery, Bussum and The Hague, Netherlands, June 24, 1946. Baron Louis de Chollet (died 1972), Fribourg, Switzerland, until 1947 [this and the following according to Knoedler Stock Book 9, No. A3608; copy in curatorial object file]; sold to Knoedler and Co., New York, January 2, 1947; sold to Chauncey McCormick (died 1954) and Marion Deering McCormick (died 1965), Chicago, May 1947; by descent to their children, Charles Deering McCormick, Brooks McCormick, and Roger McCormick, Chicago, 1965; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1965.