Bedroom in the Yellow House

The Bedroom

Van Gogh made this painting of his bedroom after a few days of rest and recovery from hard work outdoors. He sent a sketch to his brother Theo and wrote:

At last I’m sending you a little sketch to give you at least an idea of the direction the work is taking.

Letter to Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 16 October 1888.

Sketch of *The Bedroom*, sent by Van Gogh to his brother Theo in October 1888.

'This time it's simply my bedroom'

In February 1888, Van Gogh had moved from the bustling city of Paris to Arles in Southern France. He hoped that the sun-drenched colours of the landscape there would inspire him.

Starting in May, he rented the ‘Yellow House’. He hoped other artists would join him in creating a new and revolutionary style of art. In the end, Paul Gauguin was the only one who came. They spent a few months living and working together, until they had an argument and Gauguin left for Paris.

Place Lamartine in Arles, with the ‘Yellow House’ on the corner at left and the railway bridge in the background.

Paul Gauguin 1848-1903
*Vincent van Gogh painting Sunflowers*, 1888
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)