IDENTITY
Madame Chrysanthème
Literature
Work Summary
A semi-autobiographical novel about a French naval officer stationed in Japan who enters a temporary arranged marriage with the young Japanese woman Chrysanthème. The book combines travel description, cultural observation and emotional detachment within a highly aestheticized account of late nineteenth-century Japan.
Evidence Summary
Across two documented events from 3 Jun 1888 to Sep 1888, Van Gogh's engagement with Madame Chrysanthème progresses through reading.
Literary representation of Japan appears in the same intellectual context as Van Gogh's Japonisme.
CONTEXT
Author / Source
Pierre Loti
Work
Madame Chrysanthème
Years / Period
3 Jun 1888 | Sep 1888
Van Gogh Relation
Read, Discussed / Commented On
EVIDENCE
Key Quotation
CONNECTIONS
Evidence Trail
3 Jun 1888 — Letter 628
Read · Read / evaluated
Van Gogh says he read Madame Chrysanthème in the preceding days.
Response: He says it contains interesting remarks about Japan.
Connection: Direct documented response relevant to his interest in Japan.
Sep 1888 — Letter 685
Read / discussed in Japan context
Response: Van Gogh mentions the novel while discussing the difficulty of grasping the character of Japanese art through dry description.
Connection: Literary representation of Japan appears in the same intellectual context as Van Gogh's Japonisme.
Related Research Nodes
Study Subject
Themes
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