The Church in Auvers-sur-Oise, View from the Chevet

is an oil on canvas painting created by Vincent van Gogh in June 1890.

Location and Context

The painting depicts the Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption in Auvers-sur-Oise, a village about 27 kilometres northwest of Paris. Van Gogh moved to Auvers-sur-Oise in May 1890, where he was under the care of Dr. Paul Gachet, a friend and fellow artist, due to concerns about his health.

Artistic Details

The painting measures 94 cm x 74 cm and is now housed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. It is characterized by its vibrant and expressive use of color, with the church appearing violet-hued against a deep blue sky, and the stained-glass windows depicted as ultramarine blue patches. The roof is painted in violet and orange hues, while the foreground features green plants and pink sand.

Style and Influence

Unlike the impressionist approach of artists like Claude Monet, Van Gogh did not focus on capturing the play of light on the monument. Instead, the painting offers an expressive and somewhat distorted view of the church, anticipating the styles of fauvist and expressionist painters. The church, built in the 13th century in early Gothic style and flanked by Romanesque chapels, is portrayed in a dramatic and almost surreal manner, as if it is being engulfed by the surrounding paths and landscape.

Historical Significance

This painting is one of about seventy works Van Gogh produced during his two-month stay in Auvers-sur-Oise, from May 21 to July 29, 1890. It reflects his intense creative period and his nostalgic feelings for the northern landscapes of his childhood. The church holds a personal significance for Van Gogh as well; his funeral was initially intended to be held there, but due to his Protestant faith and the circumstances of his death, the ceremony was instead held in an inn's room.

Symbolism and Themes

The painting includes motifs such as diverging paths, which also appear in other works like "Wheat Field with Crows." These elements may symbolize the artist's inner turmoil and the complexities of his life. Van Gogh's depiction of the church in shadow, despite the bright sunlight in the foreground, may reflect his disillusionment with organized religion, a theme he discussed in his letters referencing Shakespeare's works.