Luxembourg Garden in Paris 1887

"Luxembourg Garden in Paris" is a sketch by Vincent van Gogh. Made without color, it is a rendering of bare trees and indistinct figures. Van Gogh’s Paris period was one of transformation. He moved to Paris to join his brother Theo, an art dealer, and encountered Impressionism, which was flourishing at the time. This sketch offers a glimpse into Van Gogh’s personal experience as an outsider in Parisian society. The figures are isolated from one another, and even the garden appears bare. This might reflect Van Gogh’s feelings of alienation. He once wrote, "It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done." The Luxembourg Garden, a known gathering place, here emphasizes the separation between individuals. Van Gogh struggled with social connections, and his emotional state is palpable in the drawing. The garden becomes a stage for isolation, reflecting Van Gogh's internal world.