The Langlois Bridge at Arles with Women Washing

is an oil on canvas painting created by Vincent van Gogh in March 1888, during his time in Arles, southern France. Here are some key points about the artwork:

Composition and Subject

The painting depicts the Langlois Bridge, a double-beam drawbridge that spanned the Arles to Bouc canal. The scene includes women washing linens on the shore, a common canal-side activity, and a little yellow cart crossing the bridge.

Color and Technique

Van Gogh employed his knowledge of color theory, particularly the 'law of simultaneous contrasts,' to create a vibrant and coloristically unified whole. The painting features yellow and blue complementary colors in the bridge, sky, and river, which intensifies the impact of each color. The grass is depicted with alternating brush strokes of red-orange and green.

Provenance

The painting is part of the collection at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands, and is cataloged as F397. It was sent by Van Gogh to his brother Theo in Paris at the beginning of May 1888. After Van Gogh's death, it was inherited by his widow, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, and later managed by their son, Vincent Willem van Gogh, before being transferred to the Vincent van Gogh Foundation and eventually the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Historical Context

The Langlois Bridge was one of several crossings over the Arles to Bouc canal, built in the first half of the 19th century. The original bridge was replaced by a reinforced-concrete structure in 1930, which was later destroyed by the Germans during World War II. Today, a reconstructed bridge bears Van Gogh’s namesake and is located near the original site.

Artistic Significance

This painting is considered one of Van Gogh's most iconic and best-loved works from his Arles period. It demonstrates his ability to abstract nature to its essential coloristic and formal elements, creating a harmoniously interwoven unity where humanity and its works are perfectly integrated.

Other Versions

Van Gogh created multiple versions of the Langlois Bridge, including other oil paintings and a watercolor. These works show varying details, such as a woman walking with a parasol or different activities along the canal.