La maison de La Crau (The Old Mill) (1888) by Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh’s *La maison de La Crau (The Old Mill)* captures the rustic charm of the French countryside with his signature swirling brushstrokes and vibrant colors. The painting depicts an old mill standing against a windswept sky, its weathered walls and thatched roof bathed in golden light. Van Gogh’s thick, expressive layers of paint bring texture to the scene—the rough stone, the swaying grass, the clouds twisting like living things. There’s a quiet energy here, as if the landscape itself is breathing, pulsing with the artist’s restless vision.

Painted during his time in Arles, this work reflects van Gogh’s fascination with rural life and his desire to find beauty in simplicity. The mill isn’t just a building; it feels like a character, rooted in the earth yet reaching toward the sky. Shadows stretch long across the field, suggesting late afternoon, a moment suspended between daylight and dusk. Every stroke feels deliberate, almost urgent, as if van Gogh was racing to capture the fleeting magic of the scene before it vanished.