Critical Reasoning

In 1886, the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh began to exhibit simple, elegant lines and vivid colors. Art historians explain this change as the incorporation of another culture's artistic tradition and argue on this basis that Van Gogh became interested in Japanese art at this time.

Each of the following, if true, provides some support for the art historians' account described above EXCEPT:


(A) Black contours typical of Japanese Yamato-e paintings appear in Van Gogh's work from 1886 on but at no earlier time.

(B) Van Gogh's notebooks dating from the inception of his art career until 1885 contain hundreds of sketches for paintings, none of which exhibit the style distinctive to Japanese artwork.

(C) A thriving market for Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints existed in Paris, where Van Gogh settled in early 1886.

(D) Bridge in the Rain, which Van Gogh painted in 1885, exhibited striking similarities to Sudden Rain at Ohashi Bridge by Japanese print master Hiroshige.


(E) Some of Van Gogh's sketches were drawn using a reed shaped into a quill, a traditional Japanese instrument Van Gogh began to use in 1886.

IMO E... all are talking about painting but this talks about insturment.. so E forme

IMO:D

i go for D. Since here, the statement provide eveidence that the artwork of Van gogh as resemblence of Japanese tradition even in 1985. Whereas, the first statement in the CR example says that it began to reflect such resemblence in 1986. So i think D should be the answer.

abhijit_ghonge wrote:i go for D. Since here, the statement provide eveidence that the artwork of Van gogh as resemblence of Japanese tradition even in 1985. Whereas, the first statement in the CR example says that it began to reflect such resemblence in 1986. So i think D should be the answer.

Nice catch

OA is D only

"Van Gogh's notebooks dating from the inception of his art career until 1885 contain hundreds of sketches for paintings, none of which exhibit the style distinctive to Japanese artwork".

What is wrong with B ? Can anyone explain

ankurmit wrote:"Van Gogh's notebooks dating from the inception of his art career until 1885 contain hundreds of sketches for paintings, none of which exhibit the style distinctive to Japanese artwork".

What is wrong with B ? Can anyone explain

Contenders are B and D
I think D is better than B; because B eliminates possibility of japanese influence before 1886, hence supports historians claim.

can experts pls help

IMO: D

Conclusion: Van Gogh interested in Japanese art

Evidence: Paintings changed

Assumptions: Van Gogh somehow exposed to Japanese art AND that the description of the change matches Japanese art

Question Rephrase: What does NOT support the conclusion?

Prediction: Van Gogh NOT exposed to Japanese art, or Van Gogh's changes NOT like Japanese art

A - this would support - shows his work is similar to Japanese art post-1886

B - irrelevant - the argument is focused on his post-1886 art

C - this would support - shows Van Gogh exposed to Japanese art

D - The argument says that the change was post-1886 and that it was "at this time" that Van Gogh become interested. However, this choice shows there were similarities in 1885, a year earlier.

E - this would support - Van Gogh consciously changing his instrument to a Japanese model supports the "incorporation" discussed

Vivian,

Simple yet excellent break down of the stimulus.

Could you please elaborate as to why option B fails to make the cut?

My understanding is that - B is irrelevant or does not support the observation made by the historians in any way. Since it does not support, it could be the option we're looking for.

Whereas, on the other hand, D says that Van Gogh was influenced by Japanese art earlier than 1886, which could be enough to say that his work around that period displayed as much.

Thanks in advance.

@Vishnu88

B offers this fact: Van Gogh's work pre-1885 shows no Japanese artwork.

However, the argument is making a claim about Van Gogh's post-1886 art (that it was "at this time" that he become interested in Japanese art.)

Just because Van Gogh wasn't influenced by Japanese art prior to 1886, doesn't mean he wasn't suddenly interested in 1886, and then "incorporated" it after.

The question is asking for something would most strongly WEAKEN the argument. "Does not support" is an active thing; answer choices that are irrelevant do NOT "not support"; they are "out of scope."

What Van Gogh did or did not do prior to 1886 is irrelevant to the argument.