Street in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Street in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a significant drawing created by Vincent van Gogh in 1888, shortly after his arrival in Arles and subsequent trip to the nearby Mediterranean coast. This period marked a pivotal shift in the artist’s style, favoring expressive line work and patterning inspired by the intense Provençal sunlight. The work captures the simple, rustic architecture of the fishing village, focusing on the dense cluster of Houses and tile Roofs characteristic of the region, rendered with an immediacy suggesting the conditions of direct observation.

Executed primarily with a reed pen, quill, and brown ink over an initial graphite sketch on wove paper, the drawing showcases Gogh's rapid development of his unique linear technique. He utilized the reed pen to create the characteristic dashes and swirling, rhythmic patterns that define the texture of the stucco walls and the tiled roofs, allowing the white of the paper to suggest the dazzling light. The presence of tack holes in all corners indicates the paper was likely affixed to a board while Gogh worked en plein air. Notably, the drawing includes later additions in black chalk near the lower and upper right edges, possibly applied by a restorer when the sheet was laid down on a secondary support.

This sketch is crucial for understanding Gogh's artistic exploration during his time in Arles, demonstrating his ability to render light and structure purely through pattern and line density before translating these observations into oil. The drawing is held within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As many of Gogh's preparatory studies and artworks from this productive period have entered the public domain, high-quality prints and reproductions of the work, showcasing his masterful ink technique, remain widely accessible, allowing broader appreciation for his achievements in draftsmanship alongside his renowned paintings.