Memory of the Garden at Etten is an 1888 Post-Impressionist painting by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. It is located in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Analysis of Memory of the Garden at Etten
The memory of the Garden at Etten (Ladies of Arles) was painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1888 as a decoration for his bedroom in the house he shared with fellow artist Paul Gauguin in Arles.
This work shows the influence of Gauguin on van Gogh: the painting of peasant women in a non-naturalistic space or rather a space of uncertain perspective.
Van Gogh retains his fascination with luminous colors and fine details like the dotted shawls and dresses of the women that seem to absorb the brilliant light of the south of France.
The influence of Paul Gaugin on Vincent van Gogh
The two artists met in Paris in 1887 and became close friends, collaborating and exchanging ideas. Gauguin’s influence on van Gogh was particularly evident during the period when they worked together in Arles, in the south of France.
Gauguin was known for his use of bold, flat colors and simplified forms, which he believed better captured the essence of his subjects. This approach resonated with van Gogh, who was also experimenting with color and form in his paintings. Inspired by Gauguin’s work, van Gogh began to use brighter colors and more expressive brushstrokes, moving away from the muted colors and realism that had characterized his earlier work.
In addition to the technical aspects of painting, Gauguin’s ideas about the role of art also had a profound impact on van Gogh. Gauguin believed that art should be an expression of the artist’s innermost feelings and that it should be used to convey ideas and emotions rather than simply to depict reality. This philosophy influenced van Gogh, who began to use his art as a way to express his own emotional struggles and to convey his thoughts and ideas.
The time that van Gogh and Gauguin spent together in Arles was particularly productive for both artists, as they worked side-by-side, sharing ideas and techniques. However, their collaboration was not without its challenges, and their relationship ultimately deteriorated, with Gauguin leaving Arles after a heated argument with van Gogh. Nevertheless, the influence of Gauguin on van Gogh’s work can be seen throughout the latter’s oeuvre, particularly in his use of bold color and expressive brushwork, as well as in his emphasis on the emotional content of his art.