The Seated Zouave

Van Gogh's Seated Zouave of 1888 belongs to his series of military portrait subjects from Arles, where French troops stationed in the city provided him with models whose colorful uniforms offered chromatic material he found exciting. The Zouave regiments — French colonial soldiers from North Africa — wore distinctive uniforms of red and blue that Van Gogh found visually compelling and painted with evident enthusiasm. He wrote to Theo that the colors were savage but harmonious. The seated pose gives the figure a relaxed informality that contrasts with the exotic uniform. The work is currently unlocated or in private hands.

The Zouave's vivid uniform — reds, blues, and the specific olive and tan of the colonial soldier's dress — is rendered with Van Gogh's mature chromatic confidence. He builds the figure from complementary color contrasts that the uniform naturally provides. The face is observed with the same directness as his peasant portraits. Background is simplified to focus attention on the figure and its colorful dress.