L'Arlésienne

Vincent van Gogh completed this L'Arlésienne in February 1890 while recovering at the Saint-Rémy asylum. This oil on canvas measures 60 by 50 cm and depicts Marie Ginoux, owner of the Café de la Gare in Arles. The portrait now resides at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome.

Van Gogh created this version from a charcoal drawing by Paul Gauguin, made during a competitive one-hour sketching session in November 1888. Marie Ginoux and her husband ran the café where Van Gogh rented a room, and she became a recurring subject for both artists. Van Gogh painted five portraits of her at Saint-Rémy, intending them as gifts for Gauguin, his brother Theo, himself, and Madame Ginoux.

The sitter wears traditional Arlésienne dress against a vivid yellow background. Van Gogh's bold brushwork and saturated colors transform a simple portrait into an emotional study. He completed this work just months before his death in July 1890.