Landscape at Arles 1888

This is Vincent van Gogh's "Landscape at Arles" made with pen and ink on paper. It is now in the Art Institute of Chicago. Immediately striking is the almost feverish energy communicated through the quick, repetitive marks of the pen. The drawing teems with an inner vitality that seems ready to burst forth. Van Gogh's work can be seen as a bridge between realism and expressionism. The use of line here doesn’t just delineate form, but is used to express emotional and psychological states. Notice how the short, flickering strokes in the foreground contrast with the swirling, almost turbulent lines used to depict the trees and foliage. This stylistic choice destabilizes traditional notions of perspective and depth, flattening the picture plane and inviting viewers to engage with the artwork on a more subjective level. The tension between representation and abstraction in "Landscape at Arles" offers a glimpse into Van Gogh's innovative approach to art-making, where emotional expression and formal experimentation intersect.