Courtyard of the Hospital at Arles

Courtyard of the Hospital at Arles

  Courtyard of the Hospital at Arles is a realistic painting done by Vincent van Gogh in April of 1889. This painting is now located in Oskar Reinhart Museum in Switzerland. This painting was most likely painted while Van Gogh was in the hospital getting treatment from his crises. This painting was briefly mentioned in the book Sunflowers by Sheramy Bundrick. Van Gogh would often complain that he had nothing to do in the hospital during his stay, and when he did have his sketch books and pencils, he would yearn to paint. The inspiration for this painting was probably him looking out the window from his hospital room or from his walks around the courtyard. 
  This painting was painted on canvas with oil paints. The light brushstrokes of the shrubbery and plants show their texture. He uses a bright palette which includes bright yellows, reds, blues, and greens. The painting also shows a contrast between the dark greens on the left side and the bright yellows on the right side. His attention for detail is shown by him painting individual grass pieces with his light brushstrokes. The bare trees and dark surroundings may symbolize the current state he was in, and the bright colors on the other side represent the light at the end of the tunnel, or his crises.