Viale in autunno

In the autumn of 1884 Vincent van Gogh was living with his parents in the Dutch village of Nuenen, years before the bright colour most people picture. He was still working in the browns and greens of the northern countryside, teaching himself by painting what lay near the parsonage. In October he wrote to his brother Theo about this very study, an avenue of poplars with yellow autumn leaves, the sun casting, here and there, sparkling spots on the fallen leaves, a small cottage at the end of the road and blue sky showing through the branches. He was 31 and had been painting for only a few years. Look for the single figure walking away down the lane between the tree trunks.