The Sea at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, 1888
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Oil on Canvas, 51 X 64 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
(Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
F 415

SÀThe Mediterranean Sea is a mackerel color: in other words, changeable – you do not always know whether it is green or purple, you do not always know if it is blue, as the next moment the ever-changing sheen has assumed a pink or a gray tint,? Van Gogh wrote from Les Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer. In this fishing village, Vincent painted the effects of light on the sea, with small fishing vessels returning with the catch. The large bright red signature is striking: SÀbecause I wanted to have a red note in the green.?