Vincents House in Arles (The Yellow House) Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

Description of Vincent van Gogh’s painting The Yellow House

The famous Dutch artist painted this painting in the fall of 1888 while living in the French town of Arles. The subject was based on the artist’s real home and his long-held dream of a special creative studio. The building itself, located in the central square of the town, was rather dilapidated, but in spite of everything, it inspired Van Gogh.

Having rented a dwelling, the artist painted its walls, after which he solemnly named it the Yellow House. The color had a special symbolic meaning for the artist and, in addition, was associated with sunlight and summer warmth, evoking a desire to live and create. For a long time Van Gogh didn’t have the money to buy furniture for his new house, but that didn’t dampen his enthusiasm or his hopes. In all of his paintings from that period, any house was painted in yellow.

Van Gogh’s long and treasured dream was to create a union of artists, which he called "the southern workshop." The idea was to create a unique colony of artists where they could live under one roof, exchange ideas and create art freely. Wag Gogh dreamed that in his Yellow House every object would be special and inspiring.

From November to December 1888 a friend of Van Gogh’s, the French painter Paul Gauguin, lived as a guest. The paintings created in this house by the two poor creators were recognized as world masterpieces after their deaths.

The painting depicting the Yellow House in Arles is painted in oil on canvas in the spirit of Van Gogh’s familiar Post-Impressionist style. The work combines a realistic depiction with deep undertones expressing the unchanging, essential state of life. The yellow house became a source of inspiration and a special sign for the artist. The painting is filled with bright hopes and enthusiasm, symbolizing the most important dreams of its creator.