The Yellow House, Arles

The Yellow House, or "Het gele huis" in Dutch, is an iconic painting created by Vincent van Gogh. Painted in 1888, it depicts the right wing of 2 Place Lamartine in Arles, France, which served as van Gogh's residence for a period of time.

Van Gogh rented four rooms in the house on May 1, 1888, with the intention of using two large rooms on the ground floor as his workshop and kitchen. On the first floor, he occupied two smaller rooms that faced Place Lamartine. The window on the first floor, closest to the corner, and with both shutters open, belonged to van Gogh's guest room where his fellow artist Paul Gauguin lived for nine weeks starting from late October 1888. The following window, with partially closed shutters, belonged to van Gogh's own bedroom. The two smaller rooms at the back of the house were rented by van Gogh at a later time.

In the painting, van Gogh also indicated a nearby pink building, located on 28 Place Lamartine, which served as the restaurant where he frequently had his meals. This building was owned by Widow Venissac, who was not only van Gogh's landlady but also owned several of the other depicted buildings. To the right of the Yellow House, the Avenue Montmajour can be seen, leading to two railway bridges. Additionally, a ditch running along Avenue Montmajour is depicted, which served as the gas pipe that allowed van Gogh to install gas lighting in his workshop later on.

Although the actual Yellow House suffered heavy damage during World War II and was eventually destroyed, the location depicted in van Gogh's painting remains recognizable. The Yellow House holds immense historical and artistic significance, as it represents a pivotal period in van Gogh's life when he lived and worked alongside Gauguin, and it showcases his unique artistic style and use of vibrant colors.