The Windmills of his mind

Memory of the Garden at Etten

Arles, November 1888

Oil on canvas 73.5x 92.5cm

St. Petersburg, Hermitage

At first glance this painting appears to be by Gauguin, who was living with Vincent at this time. Vincent and Paul painted together. Often they painted the same subject. I looks like Paul did most of the convincing as very few of Gauguin’s show any influence of Vincent. This painting not from nature as was usually Vincent’s way but from his mind is another painting of his mother also his sister. It has a feeling of mourning as though the garden were a cemetery the sadness and silence are unexpected emotions in a garden. The bent back of the woman tending the flowers the bent and winding path bring the eye to the dark and woeful pair carrying flowers away from the garden. The Saurat pointillist style is an experiment also seen in the later self-portrait. This painting was done during the later part of Gauguin’s visit when the emotional fabric of their friendship was being ripped apart. Ego and alcoholism are a dangerous mix.