In 1886, Vincent van Gogh underwent a significant transformation in his artistic style and approach, marking the beginning of his Parisian period. This year was a turning point for van Gogh as he moved from the rural environment of Nuenen to the bustling metropolis of Paris, where he was exposed to new artistic influences and movements that would profoundly shape his work. Upon arriving in Paris in March 1886, van Gogh moved in with his brother Theo, who was working as an art dealer. This move provided van Gogh with access to the vibrant art scene of Paris, where he encountered the works of the Impressionists and other avant-garde artists. The city was alive with artistic innovation, and van Gogh quickly immersed himself in this environment, attending exhibitions, visiting galleries, and meeting fellow artists such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Paul Gauguin, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (Encyclopedia Britannica) (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). One of the most immediate changes in van Gogh's work during 1886 was his use of color. Influenced by the Impressionists' focus on light and color, van Gogh began to adopt a brighter, more vibrant palette, moving away from the dark, earthy tones that characterized his earlier work. He experimented with new techniques, such as broken brushstrokes and the application of pure color, to capture the effects of light and atmosphere. This shift is evident in works like View of Paris from Montmartre (1886), where van Gogh used lighter tones and more dynamic brushwork to depict the cityscape (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). During his time in Paris, van Gogh also became fascinated with Japanese woodblock prints, which were highly popular among the artists of the time. The bold, flat areas of color, strong outlines, and unconventional compositions of these prints had a significant impact on van Gogh's style. He began to incorporate these elements into his own work, as seen in his still lifes and portraits from this period. The influence of Japanese art is particularly evident in his series of self-portraits, where he experimented with color, composition, and the expressive potential of the human face (Encyclopedia Britannica). Another important aspect of van Gogh's work in 1886 was his focus on portraiture. Paris provided him with a wealth of new subjects, and he painted numerous portraits of friends, fellow artists, and models. His portraits from this period, such as Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat (1886), reflect his exploration of different styles and techniques. In this work, van Gogh used a pointillist technique, applying small dots of color to create a vibrant, textured surface that captures the play of light on the face. This portrait, like many others from this time, shows van Gogh's growing confidence in his ability to convey emotion and character through his use of color and brushwork (Van Gogh Biography). In addition to portraits, van Gogh also began to paint more still lifes and urban scenes, reflecting the influence of the Parisian art scene and his exposure to new subjects and techniques. His still lifes from this period, such as Still Life with Apples (1886), demonstrate his increasing interest in color theory and his ability to create dynamic compositions that draw the viewer's eye. These works also show van Gogh's move towards a more expressive and less detailed style, focusing on the overall impact of color and form rather than precise representation (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). 1886 was a year of profound change and growth for Vincent van Gogh. His time in Paris exposed him to new ideas and artistic movements that would have a lasting impact on his work. The experimentation and innovation that characterized his art during this year laid the foundation for the masterpieces he would create in the following years. Van Gogh's Parisian period represents a crucial phase in his development as an artist, marking his transition from a more traditional style to the bold, expressive approach that would define his later work (Encyclopedia Britannica) (Van Gogh Biography).