“Snowy Landscape with Arles in the Background” is an artwork created by Vincent van Gogh in 1888 in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. Executed with oil on canvas, this piece is associated with the Post-Impressionism movement. The artwork, classified as a landscape, measures 50 x 60 cm.
The artwork depicts a serene, snowy landscape with a distant view of the town of Arles discernible on the horizon. The foreground presents a stark contrast of colors and textures; golden rods of straw interlace with the barren branches of tree limbs, reflecting the winter’s chill. Hues of greens, yellows, and browns interspersed in the snow hint at the remaining life persisting in the cold. A small building punctuates the middle ground on the right, crowned by trees with ghostly, leafless branches. The town of Arles is subtly present in the background, its distinct structures rendered in soft hues of blues and purples, contributing to the tranquil and contemplative atmosphere of the scene. Van Gogh’s characteristic bold and dynamic brushstrokes are evident, capturing the raw essence of the season and the environment.
