Public Garden with a Couple and a Blue Fir Tree 1888

This pen and ink drawing was made by Vincent van Gogh, likely in France, when he was working as an artist. The sketch depicts a public garden with figures, one a couple in love. Van Gogh’s art has come to be seen as intensely personal but it's important to remember that he saw himself as working within a specific social role, that of the modern artist. From his letters we know he wanted to make art for the people, works that would be accessible and bring joy, such as this drawing. The image creates meaning through a visual code, suggesting an informal and intimate setting within the public sphere. Van Gogh was inspired by writers like Emile Zola and the Impressionist painters, who saw beauty in modern urban life. To understand Van Gogh better, we can study the history of art institutions in France at this time, the history of landscape painting, and the growth of cities and public parks. By understanding these kinds of institutions, we can better understand the social life of art.