Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)
1889
Oil paint on canvas
72 x 91 cm
Acquired by Oskar Reinhart in 1925
Following a mental health crisis in December 1888, Vincent van Gogh received treatment at the hospital in Arles, in southern France, where he had settled earlier that year. He remained in the hospital intermittently until May 1889, and this is one of two paintings he made depicting his surroundings (the other is displayed on the left). Oskar Reinhart acquired both paintings separately and reunited them in 1925.
Through the tilted floor and high focal point, Van Gogh imbues this depiction of the men’s ward with a sense of imbalance and unease. Writing to his brother Theo, he commented that ‘a few days in the hospital were very interesting… one perhaps learns how to live from the sick.’