Encampment of Gypsies with Caravans

Painted at Arles in 1888, this scene of a Romani encampment reflects Van Gogh's fascination with life on the margins of society — a theme consistent from his early drawings of labourers and miners. He was drawn to the freedom and transience of the Roma, whose painted caravans and tethered horses he encountered on the outskirts of Arles. Writing to Theo, he expressed deep interest in the vivid colours and unconventional life of these communities. Now at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, the painting captures the vivid light of Provence and Van Gogh's sympathy for those who lived outside conventional society.

Short, energetic strokes in yellow, green, and blue capture the bright southern light. The caravans are rendered with simplified forms and strong colour contrasts that flatten depth in a manner influenced by Japanese prints. The foreground ground is built up in thick impasto, while the sky is painted more thinly, directing attention to the encampment.