The Van Gogh 888 was the first 888 limited edition in the Masters of Art collection. Made in 2023, the Montblanc Masters of Art Homage to Vincent van Gogh Limited Edition 888 is a limited-edition fountain pen created by Montblanc as part of its Masters of Art collection. The writing instrument pays tribute to Vincent van Gogh and focuses particularly on the artist’s time in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Auvers-sur-Oise. Its design incorporates references to Van Gogh’s landscapes, painting techniques, pipe smoking, and fascination with Japanese woodblock prints.
Wheatfield with Crows & the Provencal Landscape
This piece is a statement. It has a beautiful solid Au 750 skeleton overlay; the blue represents the Provençal sky, and the golden overlay recalls the wheatfields. The barrel of the piece is fully hand-painted lacquer with gold pieces around it. On top and at the bottom of the lacquered area, you will see the words “Vincent” and “1889,” both of which have a meaning.
The Van Gogh Inspiration
Montblanc’s design specifically looks toward Van Gogh’s later years in southern France. The artist moved to Saint-Rémy in 1889, and this date is commemorated on the pen by the engraving “1889” on the Au 750 barrel ring beside Van Gogh’s blue signature. Montblanc connects the design with the Provençal landscapes and wheatfields that Van Gogh painted during this period.
The color scheme of the 888 edition reflects this landscape. Montblanc describes the cap as incorporating translucent lacquer in different shades of blue together with an Au 750 solid yellow-gold skeleton overlay. The blue represents the Provençal sky, while the gold recalls the golden wheatfields. Sparkling particles in the blue lacquer of the barrel are intended to evoke stars in Van Gogh’s night skies. A solid yellow-gold Montblanc emblem is incorporated into the blue lacquer at the top of the cap, adding another gold detail to the design.
The Clip, Palette & Pipe
One of the most distinctive features on this piece is the clip. Montblanc says the clip is inspired by the palette knife Van Gogh used in his painting technique, particularly his thick and expressive impasto work. The upper section of the clip also references Van Gogh’s fondness for smoking a pipe. Montblanc describes this portion as taking the form of a pipe bowl and decorated with a yellow citrine. The combination makes the clip both a functional component and a collection of references to the artist. The clip also has a platinum coating and finish.
The Nib & “Almond Blossom”
The nib is another important artistic detail. The 888 fountain pen has an Au 750 solid yellow-gold nib with special embossing. For this particular edition, Montblanc states that the embossed image on the nib is inspired by Van Gogh’s “Almond Blossom,” a work from 1890. The painting reflects Van Gogh’s interest in Japanese art and is therefore particularly appropriate to a pen whose overall design also incorporates Japanese artistic references. This is an important distinction between the different Van Gogh editions in the Montblanc collection. The 888 edition references “Almond Blossom,” whereas the 4810 edition uses an interpretation of Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.”
Van Gogh & Japanese Art
Japanese art played an important role in Van Gogh’s artistic interests. Montblanc incorporates this aspect into the physical form of the writing instrument. According to Montblanc, the overall silhouette is inspired by a Japanese woodcutting knife, reflecting Van Gogh’s fascination with traditional Japanese woodblock prints. The design therefore connects the artist’s European surroundings with one of the major artistic influences that interested him.
