Montblanc, in partnership with the Van Gogh Museum, unveils its “Masters of Art” collection, celebrating the immortal legacies of influential artists throughout history. The inaugural edition is dedicated to the groundbreaking Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh, whose innovative ideas continue to captivate art enthusiasts and shape modern artistic movements.
The Montblanc “Masters of Art” collection is a testament to the luxury brand’s commitment to fostering culture, creativity, and personal expression. Building on the success of the Mécène d’Art collection, which focused on artistic patrons, the Masters of Art series now shifts the spotlight to the artists themselves. This new collection encompasses the creative genius of renowned artists across various disciplines and historical periods, including painting, sculpture, design, and architecture from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Impressionism, among others.
Incorporating the golden ratio, a timeless aesthetic principle prevalent in many of the world’s most celebrated masterpieces, the proportions of each writing instrument in the collection exude elegance and harmony. The golden ratio, or Phi (1.61), has inspired the creation of the Limited Edition 161 series, featuring a Phi symbol embossed on the handcrafted solid 18-carat gold nib of each of the 161 limited edition writing instruments.
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The first edition of the “Masters of Art” collection pays homage to Vincent van Gogh, a trailblazer in late 19th-century painting whose visionary ideas and evocative style have cemented him as a precursor to modernism. Five limited edition writing instruments, reflecting the various phases of van Gogh’s artistic and personal journey, draw inspiration from some of his most iconic works.
To ensure authenticity and accuracy, Montblanc has collaborated with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the world’s premier authority on the life and work of the influential Dutch painter. Home to the largest collection of van Gogh’s works, the museum boasts over 200 paintings, nearly 500 drawings, and over 700 letters. As it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2023, the Van Gogh Museum continues to inspire and educate countless admirers of van Gogh’s legacy and his contemporaries.
Montblanc Masters of Art Tribute to Vincent van Gogh Limited Edition 4810
This limited edition fountain pen and rollerball pays homage to Vincent van Gogh’s time in Arles and his iconic “Sunflowers” painting. The writing instrument’s design is inspired by the sunny landscapes of southern France, with yellow and orange accents, and a platinum-plated barrel ring featuring the artist’s engraved signature and the year 1888. The 18-carat solid gold nib is decorated with an interpretation of van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” series. Other details include a clip resembling van Gogh’s palette knife and pipe, and a cap dome inspired by his perspective frame technique. The cap is made of hornbeam wood, symbolizing van Gogh’s appreciation for Japanese art, with the silhouette reminiscent of Japanese wood carving knives. Lastly, the cap dome is engraved with “Borinage,” acknowledging the artist’s early artistic aspirations among Belgian miners.
Montblanc Masters of Art Tribute to Vincent van Gogh Limited Edition 888
This edition’s design is inspired by Van Gogh’s time in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Auvers-sur-Oise, reflecting the sky of Provence and his famous painting, “Wheatfield with Crows”. The writing instrument features engravings of “Saint-Rémy” and “1889,” as well as Van Gogh’s signature. The Limited Edition 888 cap captures the colors of the Provencal sky and wheat fields with translucent lacquer inlays and an 18K yellow gold layer. Sparkling particles in the blue lacquer represent stars.
The solid 18K gold nib features an image of “Almond Blossom“, painted by Van Gogh to celebrate his nephew’s birth. The edition’s design incorporates elements of Japanese style, a platinum-coated clip inspired by Van Gogh’s palette knife, and a citrine-adorned pipe-shaped clip, all reflecting Van Gogh’s artistic influence.
Montblanc Masters of Art Tribute to Vincent van Gogh Limited Edition 161
This limited edition collection of 161 pieces pays tribute to the final years of van Gogh’s life in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Auvers-sur-Oise, drawing inspiration from his last painting, “Tree Roots.” The 18-carat gold body ring features van Gogh’s signature and the year “1890”, while the 925 sterling silver body has lacquer inlays reminiscent of “Tree Roots.” Van Gogh’s self-portraits and landscapes showcase his emotional connection to nature, and this is evident in his “Wheat Field with Cypress Trees” painting, which is referenced in the silver cap engraving.
The writing instrument incorporates elements of van Gogh’s artistic techniques and tools, such as color theory and the perspective frame. The Montblanc emblem in 18-carat gold, the palette knife-inspired clip, and the citrine-adorned pen clip reflect van Gogh’s distinct style. The Limited Edition 161’s silhouette alludes to Japanese wood carving scissors, and the 18-carat gold cone shape mirrors their blade, symbolizing van Gogh’s admiration for Japanese art. The Phi symbol on the gold nib and the edition’s 161 pieces represent the universal artistic concept of the golden ratio.
Montblanc Masters of Art Tribute to Vincent van Gogh Limited Edition 90
This limited edition of 90 pieces pays homage to van Gogh’s Arles period and his impasto technique, with a design inspired by “The Harvest” and the vibrant colors of Provence. Handcrafted elements adorn the cap and body, with “Arles” engraved on the cap dome, and “1888” and “Vincent” on the barrel ring to commemorate van Gogh’s time in Arles. The writing instrument features a Japanese woodcarving scissor-inspired shape and solid 18-carat yellow gold accents, as well as inlaid lacquer details inspired by van Gogh’s color theory explorations. The nib is embossed with a sunflower design, and the cap dome, clip, and engravings are inspired by various aspects of van Gogh’s life and work, including his self-portraits, pipe-smoking habit, and artistic tools.
Montblanc Masters of Art Tribute to Vincent van Gogh Limited Edition 8
This limited edition collection of 8 pieces celebrates van Gogh’s “Wheatfield with Crows” masterpiece. The design features a blue lacquer motif on an 18-carat gold body and cap, adorned with diamonds and engravings reminiscent of van Gogh’s brushstrokes. The cap’s dome showcases a hand-painted blue lacquer field, diamonds, and a Montblanc diamond, while the marquetry motif pays tribute to van Gogh’s love for nature. The writing instrument incorporates elements from the artist’s color theory, perspective frame, and the iconic shape of a Japanese wood carving chisel. A quote from van Gogh’s letter to his brother Theo is engraved on the gold surface, and the clip design is inspired by his palette knife. Other details include van Gogh’s self-portraits, signature, and pipe-smoking habit.
This collection of Limited Editions is accompanied by a selection of writing accessories. The exterior design of the fine stationery items is inspired by the sun-drenched landscape of “Wheatfield behind Saint-Paul Hospital with a Reaper,” with a 3D print that recalls van Gogh’s impasto technique. The cover of the notebook is also adorned with van Gogh’s signature. The Montblanc Turquoise colored ink is inspired by the soothing turquoise blue of the Almond Blossom painting.
The collection is completed with stainless steel cufflinks, blue lacquer, and sapphire glass, which evoke the enchanting skies often seen in van Gogh’s paintings.
The Montblanc “Masters of Art” Homage to Vincent van Gogh Limited Edition collection, created in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, will be available from April 2023 in Montblanc boutiques and online.
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