À propos de l’œuvre
Une vieille femme d'Arles, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · February 1888 · Arles
An old woman from Arles, F390Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Wearing a black scarf tied high on her head, an elderly woman calmly looks ahead; Van Gogh paints this face without idealization, in the modest room of the hotel where he has just arrived in Arles.
Look at the work
Van Gogh's first Arlesian model
The woman is framed halfway, almost from the front. Her white cap frames a face with heavy eyelids and sunken cheeks; the big black scarf extends into a midnight blue dress.
Behind her, the reddish pillar and light cover of a bed place the scene in a bedroom. The pale wall is covered with small turquoise touches that make the space around the silhouette vibrate.
This painting is among the very first studies painted after Van Gogh's arrival in Arles on February 20, 1888. Research by the Van Gogh Museum suggests identifying the model with Elisabeth Garcin-Pau, elderly mother-in-law of the hotelier Albert Carrel.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The number s0145V1962, the format of 58 × 42.5 cm and the references F390/JH1357 make it possible to precisely distinguish this portrait preserved in Amsterdam.
Black, blue and light
The mourning garment is not a uniform mass: Prussian blue, purple and black are superimposed on it, opposed to the yellow whites of the face and the cap.
A face without flattery
Van Gogh emphasizes the asymmetry of the eyes, the furrows of the forehead and the closed mouth. Frontality gives the model a dignified and silent presence.
A room barely indicated
A few lines are enough to recognize the bed at the Hôtel Carrel. The background remains free, painted in short touches rather than described precisely.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
The portrait documents Van Gogh's early days in Provence, before he settled in the Yellow House.
February 1888 at the Carrel Hotel
Van Gogh first stayed at this establishment in Arles and painted several studies in his immediate environment.
Probably Elisabeth Garcin-Pau
Recent research suggests the hotel owner's mother, aged sixty-eight, as the likely identity of the model.
A work cited by the artist
Around February 24, Van Gogh wrote to Theo that he had just painted an old woman from Arles, with a snowy view and a butcher's shop.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must retain the contained expression of the model, the variety of bluish blacks and the light touches that animate the face, the hat and the wall.
- The black kerchief tied at the top of the head
- The white hat around the face
- Very dark circles of blue gray eyes
- The midnight blue dress
- The red bed post in the background
Work sheet
| Title | An old woman from Arles, F390 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | February 1888 |
| Place of creation | Arles |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 58 × 42.5 cm |
| Inventory | Van Gogh Museum s0145V1962 · F390 · JH1357 |
| Conservation | Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A sober portrait with a deep presence
The vertical format is suitable for a bookcase, hallway or portrait wall. Midnight blue, ivory, earth red and sea green match walnut and quiet interiors.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The Van Gogh Museum's reproduction measured 5,378 × 7,366 px; it was reduced to 2,190 × 3,000 px and converted into a real WebP.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
