Great Art Season 4

In this little-known story of Van Gogh's art we see just how important his study of Japan was. The film travels not only to France and the Netherlands but also to Japan to further explore the remarkable heritage that so affected Van Gogh and made him the artist we know of today.

Monet's life is a gripping tale about a man who, behind his sun-dazzled canvases, suffered from feelings of depression and loneliness. However, as his art developed and his love of gardening led to the glories of his Giverny garden, his humour, insight and love of life are revealed. Told through Monet's own words and shot on location at the very spots he painted, the film features his most loved paintings in an unforgettable, immersive art experience.

The National Gallery, London, offered a fresh look at one of the most startling and fascinating artists of all – Johannes Vermeer. The National Gallery chose to focus on Vermeer's relationship with music. It is one of the most popular themes of Dutch painting and reveals an enormous amount about the sitter and the society they lived in. New research, revealed for the first time at this exhibition, showed how his technique and materials affected Vermeer's works. Tim Marlow goes beyond the exhibition to tell the entire story of Vermeer's life and, in doing so, shows in detail many other of the artist's captivating works. For those inspired by the 2003 film, Girl with a Pearl Earring, starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson, this new, cinematic exploration will take their enjoyment and fascination of Vermeer's life and work to a new level.

Tim Marlow goes behind the scenes at Tate Modern's Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs, one of the most successful exhibitions in the museum's history. Featuring contributions from Tate director Nicholas Serota and MoMA director Glenn D Lowry, as well as curators, historians and people who knew the artist personally.

Tim Marlow explores the extreme positive and negative reactions to Renoir's changing style, examining some of the 181 paintings held at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. The film reveals how his new direction was an influence on Picasso and Matisse, making it a vital turning point in the development of art between the 19th and 20th centuries.