Entrance to the Moulin de la Galette
Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890), Paris, June-September 1887
pencil, pen and ink, watercolour, on paper,
31.6 cm x 24.0 cm
Credits (obliged to state): Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
This gate was the entrance to the grounds of the Moulin de la Galette, an entertainment venue on the hill of Montmartre in Paris. The mill was surrounded by a dance hall and cafés, including an outdoor café with a view of the city. The mill was no longer in operation but served as an attraction. The Moulin de la Galette was popular among artists. They went there to dance and drink but also liked to paint there.
Van Gogh lived nearby. He made a number of drawings and paintings on the grounds of the mill. After dark, the narrow street was filled with people out for a good time. But Van Gogh chose a quiet daytime moment for his drawing. Could it have been a mistake that the Dutch flag is flying in his painting instead of the French one?
