<b>Vincent in Paris</b>
(Spring 1887)


In the spring of 1887 Vincent had an affair with Agostina Segatori (1841–1910). She ran Le Tambourin, a restaurant and cabaret at 62 Boulevard de Clichy in Montmartre that was popular with artists.
He gave her floral still lifes to display in the café, hoping people would buy them, but no one did. When Le Tambourin went bankrupt in the summer of 1887, Vincent's paintings were probably auctioned off.

Basket of Pansies
May 1887
Oil on canvas
46 x 55 cm
Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum
https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0180V1962

The basket of pansies is on a stool shaped like a tambourine. Such stools could be found in the Café du Tambourin. The same stools are also visible in the portrait Vincent painted of Agostina.

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0017V1962

 

After the bankruptcy Le Tambourin was called Le Cabaret des Quat-z-arts