Farmhouse in Provence
Painting on canvas • Vincent van Gogh
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil paint using impasto technique with rhythmic, agitated brushstrokes and thick application of pigments.
Creation Period
June 1888
Dimensions & Format
46.1 cm x 60.9 cm (18.1 in x 24 in); Landscape format
Subject Description
The painting depicts a rural Provencal scene near Arles featuring a farmhouse with orange-red roofs, large haystacks behind a stone wall, and a figure walking through a field of grain. Red poppies are scattered in the foreground. The composition uses complementary colors (blue vs orange/yellow) to create a sense of vibrant heat and light.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent (assuming the original museum specimen); the image shown appears to have heightened digital saturation.
Estimated Market Value
$80,000,000 - $120,000,000+
Auction Estimate
$90,000,000 - $110,000,000
Provenance History
Once in the collection of Johannes Willem Benedictus Alers; eventually acquired as part of the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection; donated to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 1970.
Art Historical Significance
A masterpiece from the artist's Arles period, representing his peak experimentation with color theory and the 'high yellow' style. It illustrates Van Gogh's fascination with the peasant life and the intense light of Southern France.
Notable Features
Rhythmic, directional brushwork in the sky and fields; use of bold outlines (cloisonnism); extremely high contrast between the cool blue shadows and the warm yellow grain.
Condition Issues
Historical yellowing of varnish (since removed in professional cleanings); minor craquelure typical of 19th-century oil on canvas.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable humidity (45-55% RH), low UV light levels, and professional archival framing behind anti-reflective museum glass.