The artwork, “Drawbridge with Lady with Parasol,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1888 in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, is a Post-Impressionist cityscape rendered in ink on paper. This piece captures a moment of daily life intersecting with architectural structure, currently housed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles, CA, US.
This artwork features a drawbridge crossing over a tranquil body of water, depicted with precision and simplicity indicative of Van Gogh’s ink medium. The drawbridge dominates the composition, with its structural elements and ropes clearly delineated. The landscape is sparsely populated with trees, grass, and a pathway in the foreground, which are portrayed using light, expressive ink strokes. A prominent figure, the lady with a parasol, is positioned on the bridge, providing a sense of scale and liveliness to the scene. In the background, small figures and a carriage subtly suggest a bustling environment beyond the quiet depicted in the foreground. The elements of the drawing harmonize to reflect the serene yet dynamic character of a typical day in Arles.
