Impasse des Deux Frères 1887

Vincent van Gogh made this painting of the Impasse des Deux Frères in Paris with oil on canvas. Notice how he has rendered the textures of the scene with rough strokes of paint, creating a sense of movement. The canvas itself acts almost as a social document. The painting depicts a working-class neighborhood in Montmartre, with windmills in the background. But look at the subtle way Van Gogh represents the people – they seem somewhat anonymous, almost like figures in a landscape. He has built the painting up from the ground, starting with light washes of color. Then he's added layer upon layer of thicker, more expressive strokes, capturing the light and atmosphere of the day. These choices aren't accidental. They reflect Van Gogh's interest in representing modern life and his sympathy for the working classes, challenging the conventional ideas about what art could, and should, depict.