Follow in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh on an artistic journey through Provence, France, where soft light, vivid colours and natural scenery inspired many of Van Gogh's monumental works.
Van Gogh's Provencal period was the pinnacle of his artistic career, and it was also the period when his mental problems finally exploded. When Van Gogh came to Arles in 1888, he was fascinated by the unique light and colours, during which time he created numerous paintings depicting rural landscapes, starry skies at night, peasant life, olive trees and sunflowers.
Visitors can start their Van Gogh art tour in Arles. The old town preserves scenes from many of Van Gogh's paintings, including the famous Yellow Café, the Starry Night Bridge over the Rhône, and Van Gogh's bedroom, which has been restored like the painting "The Room of Arles". In Arles, a museum called the Van Gogh Society is dedicated to Van Gogh's artistic legacy, where you can see paintings by Van Gogh and other Impressionist artists and gain a deeper understanding of the artist's inner world.
From Arles, travelers can travel to Saint-Rémy, where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life and created around 150 works. Visit St. Paul's Hospital, where Van Gogh took the initiative to stay because of his mental health problems, and the hospital's gardens and fields are a common sight in Van Gogh's works. The tranquil setting of Saint-Rémy, with its beauty of fields and olive groves, is reminiscent of Van Gogh's brightly coloured, dynamic paintings.
Provence wasn't just a source of inspiration for Van Gogh, the whole region was full of art. Travelers can continue on to the Côte d'Azur to visit cities such as Nice and Antibes, where Matisse, Picasso and many other artists also sought inspiration. Along the way, small towns and villages, such as Saint-Paul de Vence and Tourettes-sur-Loup, complete the art journey with their beautiful streets, historic churches and lively galleries.
A trip to Provence is not exactly a retrospective of Van Gogh's life; It is also a learning process of its creative techniques and means of expression. By visiting Van Gogh's small towns, fields and art galleries, every traveler has the opportunity to experience first-hand the sights that made Van Gogh's heart throb.
In the magical land of Provence, you can find a counterpart in Van Gogh's collection in every sight you see – whether it's the warm sun shining on the ground or the dappled shadows on the walls of old buildings. When the sun sets, standing in the countryside of Arles and gazing at the cultivated land is like entering the picture of "Rye Field and Crow". At night, looking up at the starry sky, it is not difficult to imagine how the blue and purple night sky in "Starry Night" affects Van Gogh's emotional world.
Through this journey of Van Gogh's art, participants can undoubtedly gain a deeper understanding of the artistic achievements of this post-impressionist master. Every land, every light, every color in Provence seems to tell the story of Van Gogh, a painter who struggled and suffered mental anguish because of the pursuit of art, and he left behind not only paintings, but also a legend of passion, creativity and physical and mental struggle. Today's journey is to follow in the footsteps of this artist and experience the pursuit of beauty and passion for creation.