Avenue of Plane Trees near Arles Station 1888

Editor: This is Vincent van Gogh's "Avenue of Plane Trees near Arles Station," painted in 1888. The rhythmic lines of the trees, daubed in thick paint, are casting such dramatic shadows... It has an almost theatrical atmosphere to me. What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, isn’t it a marvelous dance of light and shadow? For me, this piece always hums with Van Gogh’s personal struggle with both light and shadows, doesn't it. His world at Arles was intensely coloured by sun, which he felt could clarify life. And look at those trees – their reaching branches against a sky filled with hopeful colour! But even in Arles he sought places of refuge under such planes in his own garden; and how is painting them different from depicting them where people would depart or arrive at the train station nearby. The painting breathes to me – and perhaps there may always be a hint of longing in all the light here, eh? Editor: I hadn’t considered it that way... almost a painting with contrasting personal reflections. So, do you think this contrast is why the piece has that emotional weight? Curator: It's certainly a part of it! The emotional rawness isn't just expressed visually, is it? Van Gogh understood that capturing nature required one to portray oneself too – with sensitivity towards nature. I almost feel as if I'm walking right beside Van Gogh when seeing this artwork, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I do see that more clearly now! I guess I had overlooked that element of introspection in landscape painting like this one. Thanks for sharing. Curator: It was my absolute pleasure to share these thoughts. Until our next artwork discussion, perhaps?