A Lane near Arles

Painted at Arles in 1888, this view of a rural lane lined with trees shows Van Gogh's delight in the roads and pathways of Provence, which he painted numerous times as symbols of journey and direction. He walked extensively around Arles and the surrounding countryside, canvas under his arm, and the lane paintings record his intimate knowledge of the landscape. The sense of perspective — of a path drawing the viewer forward — carried personal significance for Van Gogh as a metaphor for continuing despite uncertainty. Now at the Pomeranian State Museum in Greifswald, Germany.

A receding lane creates a strong one-point perspective, drawing the eye into the deep distance. The flanking trees are rendered with upward, energetic brushstrokes that give them a vital, reaching quality. The road surface is built with warm ochre and cream impasto, the sky above a luminous pale blue. The whole composition breathes with the open, sunny air of the Midi.