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Adventures with Van Gogh
Art market
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Art of Luxury
Adventures with Van Gogh
Adventures with Van Gogh
blog

Matisse wanted to buy a Van Gogh portrait—instead, his brother bought a bicycle

Years later, inspired by Vincent’s paintings, the French artist became a “wild beast”

Martin Bailey
21 March 2025
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The portrait Henri Matisse wanted—but his brother Auguste got a bicycle: Van Gogh’s L’Arlesienne (The Arlesienne Woman) (April 1890) and Lucien Baylac’s poster for Acatène bicycles (1898)

Museu de Arte de São Paulo and JJs / Alamy Stock Photo