Van Gogh Garden in Arles Poster

Vincent van Gogh painted *Garden at Arles* in 1888, at a time when he had settled in southern France and was entering one of the most brilliant periods of his artistic development. Viewing Arles as something of a “Japan of the South,” the artist sought to blend the intense light and vibrant colors of Provence with the simplicity and rhythm found in Japanese prints. In this garden, flowers, paths, and trees do not follow a realistic arrangement but blend together in almost shimmering patches of color; nature transforms from a serene landscape into a vibrant and exuberant energy. The fact that Van Gogh produced hundreds of works during his time in Arles makes the intensity and the seemingly hasty—yet in fact carefully planned—color scheme in this painting all the more meaningful.