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Why did Vincent van Gogh move from Paris to Arles in 1888?
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Vincent van Gogh
Self-Portrait, oil on artist's board on cradled panel by Vincent van Gogh, 1887; in the Art Institute of Chicago.
Vincent van Gogh moved from Paris to Arles in February 1888 for several key reasons:
- Physical and Mental Exhaustion: After living in Paris for two years, he was tired of city life and felt physically exhausted.1
- Artistic Vision: He longed to observe nature under a "brighter sky" and possessed a strong desire to achieve a "full effect of color" in his work.1
- Community Ambitions: He hoped to establish a working community of artists, which he called "The Studio of the South." He rented and decorated a house in Arles with the specific intention of persuading other artists, such as Paul Gauguin, to join him and pursue shared artistic goals.1
His move marked a significant new chapter in his career, leading to a highly productive period where he embraced a more spontaneous, instinctive style of painting.21