L'Arlesienne, Portrait of Madame Ginoux 1890

Vincent van Gogh painted this portrait of Madame Ginoux, L'Arlesienne, using oil on canvas. Painted in Arles, France, this work offers a window into the artist's world and the cultural milieu of southern France. The subject, Madame Ginoux, ran the Café de la Gare, a local establishment frequented by Van Gogh. Her attire, a traditional Arlesian costume, reflects the regional identity and the enduring customs of the area. Van Gogh's choice to depict a local woman in her traditional garb speaks to his engagement with the community and his desire to capture the essence of Arles. Was it a way to criticize the Parisian institutions in favor of more local expressions of culture? Examining Van Gogh's letters and the social history of Arles can shed light on the relationship between the artist, his subject, and the broader cultural landscape. This work and the circumstances around its making prompt us to question the role of art in preserving and interpreting cultural heritage.