Fishing in Spring, the Pont de Clichy (Asnières)

Van Gogh employs a palette of greens, blues, and muted yellows, layering thin glazes over thick impasto to model light and depth. Loose, expressive brushwork conveys movement in the water and sky, while the textured surface adds tactile vitality, characteristic of his late‑period approach to landscape painting.

Created during van Gogh’s productive stay in the Paris suburbs, the painting entered the American market in the early 20th century before being acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago. Its provenance reflects the growing European interest in the artist’s work among collectors and institutions.

The work belongs to a series of river scenes van Gogh produced while living near Asnières, where he explored the interplay of light, water, and industrial forms. The Pont de Clichy, a newly built iron bridge at the time, symbolized modern infrastructure within a traditionally pastoral setting.