Artwork
Bedroom in Arles
Bedroom in Arles is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a specific arrangement of domestic furnishings, including a bed with pillows and blankets, a chair, a table, and a window.
Executed in September 1889 while the artist resided in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, this oil painting depicts the interior of a bedroom. The composition features a specific arrangement of domestic furnishings, including a bed with pillows and blankets, a chair, a table, and a window. Additional elements within the room include a door, a mirror, and various personal items such as a coat, a bottle, and glassware.
The scene also incorporates representations of other artworks hanging on the walls. As a depiction of a private living space, the work focuses on the tangible objects that constitute the artist's immediate environment during his institutionalization.
Technique & Style
Bedroom in Arles is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 73.6 by 92.3 cm. Van Gogh employed a direct, fluid handling of oil paint, applying it in flat, unmodulated areas and expressive, parallel brushstrokes to define contours and convey volume. The composition emphasizes bold, rhythmic outlines, particularly in the furniture and floorboards, while the walls and ceiling are rendered with broad, horizontal strokes. The palette is restrained yet luminous, featuring muted greens, ochres, and blues that create a harmonious yet spatially ambiguous interior.
The room’s flattened perspective and skewed angles reflect an intentional stylistic distortion, prioritizing emotional resonance over optical realism.
History & Provenance
Vincent van Gogh created the oil-on-canvas painting Bedroom in Arles in September 1889. Although the work depicts his residence in Arles, historical records indicate it was executed while the artist was staying at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The painting measures 73.6 by 92.3 centimeters and currently resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The work serves as a representation of the artist's bedroom, featuring specific furnishings such as a bed, chairs, and a table, alongside personal items like a coat and mirror. This version, dated to the latter part of 1889, is one of several iterations Van Gogh produced of the same interior subject during his time in southern France.
Overview
Vincent van Gogh's Bedroom in Arles, painted in 1889, depicts the interior of his room at the Yellow House in Arles, France. The composition features a perspective that converges sharply toward the back wall, creating a sense of depth and enclosure. Dominating the foreground is a wooden bed with a red blanket and white sheets, flanked by a small table and a wooden chair.
On the left wall, a window reveals a glimpse of the exterior, while the walls are rendered in a vivid blue, adorned with several framed portraits and landscapes. Van Gogh employed thick, expressive brushstrokes and a bold, non-naturalistic color palette to convey the room's atmosphere of rest and tranquility, which he described as a place of absolute peace. This work is one of three versions of the same subject created by the artist, reflecting his desire to capture the essence of his living space rather than a literal representation.
It stands as a significant example of his mature style, where color and form are used to express emotional states, marking a pivotal moment in his career during his time in the south of France.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.
