In February 1888, weary of life in Paris, Vincent Van Gogh moved to Arles in the South of France. Far from Paris, Arles presented a strikingly different landscape, with its proximity to the sea and its thriving agricultural community.
When Vincent arrived in February, the ground was covered in a blanket of snow. As spring approached, peach blossoms began to bloom, heralding the arrival of the new season. Soon, green shoots emerged, flowers bloomed, and crops began to ripen, displaying a stunning array of colors. The fields, once lush and green, turned golden yellow as the crops matured, and the endless fields were punctuated by the presence of windmills and haystacks.
Orchard with blossoming apricot trees (1888)
A lane near Arles (1888)
Green ears of wheat (1888)
Harvest at La Crau, with Montmajour in the background (1888)
At this time, Vincent Van Gogh was just beginning to immerse himself in Impressionism. The vibrant environment of Arles reignited his passion for creation and painting. Inspired by the surroundings, much like Claude Monet before him, Vincent began painting series of almond and peach trees. He roamed the fields, capturing haystacks and wheat fields in morning, afternoon, and evening series.
Haystacks in provence (1888)
Despite his apologies to his brother Theo, Vincent requested more of the expensive paints to continue his work. As a result, over 200 paintings from this period of Van Gogh’s life remain today.
The Night cafe (1888)
Vincent used the Café de la Gare in Arles as both his studio and lodging. Though he had no close friends in Arles, he developed a friendship with the café owner, with whom he often shared drinks and conversations. Occasionally, after a day of painting and wandering, Vincent would come down to the café for a drink and some company.
Cafe terrace at night (place du forum, Arles, 1888)
One of Vincent’s most famous paintings from his time in Arles is *Café Terrace at Night*, which captures the nighttime scene of a local café he frequented. The café’s yellow facade glows under the lights, contrasting beautifully with the darkening night sky, dotted with shining white stars. It’s a painting that has been widely recognized and featured in various media.
Thanks to Vincent, this café remains famous to this day.
