Three White Cottages in Saintes-Maries is an 1888 Post-Impressionist painting by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. It is in the Kunsthaus in Zurich, Switzerland.
Analysis of Three White Cottages in Saintes-Maries
Vincent Van Gogh painted Three White Cottages in Saintes-Maries in 1888 during his stay in Arles in the south of France. The heavy and thick paint on the canvas lends the scene a tactile quality. as if what is shown could be touched. The thick terracotta paint used for the dirt and the deep blue of the sky gives the impression also of the intense heat of the summer in Arles.
The Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer was a place of great significance to Van Gogh, as it was where he found inspiration for many of his paintings. The landscape and the people of the area had a profound impact on him, and his paintings from this period are characterized by their bright colors and strong brushstrokes. The cottages in the painting are typical of the region and Van Gogh’s use of colors in the painting reflects the vibrant colors of the Mediterranean landscape.
Van Gogh’s style during this period was heavily influenced by the works of the Impressionists and the Post-Impressionists. He was particularly drawn to the bold colors and loose brushstrokes of the Impressionists, as well as the focus on light and atmosphere in the paintings of the Post-Impressionists. In “Three White Cottages,” Van Gogh combines these influences to create a scene that is both realistic and impressionistic. The thick brushstrokes give the painting a sense of movement and energy, while the bright colors create a sense of light and atmosphere.