Vincent van Gogh
In June 1888, Vincent van Gogh traveled from Arles to the Mediterranean fishing village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where he spent a week painting and drawing. During his stay, he created two seascapes, a view of the village, and nine drawings. These works show a more experimental and expressive style compared to his earlier output.
At the time, Saintes-Maries was home to only about 800 residents. Van Gogh likely stayed at the Pension Coulomb, just a short walk from the beach. He hoped the trip would help him recover from health troubles while giving him the chance to capture the light, sea, and atmosphere of the coast.
In a letter to his brother Theo, Van Gogh described the landscape: “The beach here is sandy, no cliffs or rocks—like Holland—without the dunes and with more blue.” He also noted the quality of the local seafood and observed, “I don’t believe there are 100 houses in this village or town. The main building after the old church, an ancient fortress, is the barracks.”
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P.S. Did you know Van Gogh used a palette knife while painting this work? It is also confirmed he created it outdoors as sand has been found in the dried paint layers. Read more about the fascinating details behind the seascapes from Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer!