Street in Saintes-Maries 1888

Vincent van Gogh painted this oil on canvas of a "Street in Saintes-Maries" which now sits in a private collection. The roofs of the buildings, thick with straw, dominate the landscape. These structures serve as vital symbols of protection and home, resonating across centuries from ancient Roman dwellings to medieval thatch-roofed cottages. We can observe a collective, almost subconscious longing for shelter that spans time. Note how the road ahead narrows and then disappears into the distance. This use of perspective evokes an emotional tension—a potent symbol of our uncertain future. It is not unlike the "via dolorosa" motif that appears in Christian iconography. The symbol of 'the road' is universal, its cyclical progression from the personal to the collective resonating through art history and memory. Its emotional and psychological impact remains a powerful, subconscious force.