Paris and Arles: color, community, and a radical new style

Paris: modern color enters the studio

In Paris, van Gogh encountered artists experimenting with lighter palettes, broken brushwork, and new approaches to depicting light. He absorbed ideas quickly and began to rework his own habits — especially how to use color contrasts to make an image vibrate.

Arles: a laboratory for paintings

In 1888 he moved south to Arles. The stronger light and the landscape encouraged him to simplify shapes and intensify color. Paintings from this period often use bold outlines, energetic marks, and complementary pairs (like blue/orange or yellow/purple) to create tension and warmth.

The idea of collaboration

Van Gogh also imagined building a community of artists. The ambition was practical (shared costs, shared models) and artistic (conversation, critique). The plan did not last, but the desire for connection is visible throughout his letters.

What to look for

• Color contrasts that push foreground and background apart.
• Directional brushwork that leads the eye through a scene.
• Simple shapes that hold the image together under high energy.