Vincent van Gogh’s "Fishing in the Spring, 1887" is a vibrant and luminous landscape that highlights the artist’s fascination with nature, leisure, and the changing seasons. Created during Van Gogh’s stay in Paris from 1886 to 1888, this painting reflects the influence of French Impressionism and Japanese woodblock prints on his evolving style. "Fishing in the Spring, 1887" captures a peaceful riverside scene, likely along the Seine at Asnières, where Van Gogh frequently painted during this period. In "Fishing in the Spring, 1887", Van Gogh depicts an idyllic moment of relaxation as a lone fisherman sits on the riverbank, surrounded by blossoming trees and fresh greenery. The composition features vivid, natural colours—lush greens, soft blues, and warm earth tones—applied with energetic, dappled brushstrokes that reflect the light and texture of early spring. The river flows gently through the scene, mirroring the bright sky and enhancing the tranquil mood of the painting.

This artwork exemplifies Van Gogh’s Parisian period, where he embraced a lighter palette and experimented with colour theory, influenced by the works of Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and Georges Seurat. Unlike the darker, more somber tones of his earlier Dutch paintings, Fishing in the Spring is infused with a newfound brightness and a celebration of the outdoors. The casual figure of the fisherman adds a human element to the landscape, emphasising the harmony between people and nature. Van Gogh’s choice to paint en plein air (outdoors) allowed him to capture the immediacy of the environment. His fascination with the everyday life of workers, fishermen, and the rural poor continued even during this more colour-rich phase. Fishing in the Spring, 1887 blends his emotional sensitivity with formal innovation, making it a key transitional work in his artistic journey.

Today, "Fishing in the Spring, 1887" is appreciated not only for its technical mastery but also for its poetic depiction of a serene spring day in the Parisian suburbs. It is a celebrated example of Van Gogh’s Impressionist-inspired works and a powerful testament to his evolving vision before moving to Arles.