Early photographs by Gustave Coquiot reveal lost Van Gogh sites in Arles

Two photographic albums by art critic Gustave Coquiot (1865-1926), who wrote an early Van Gogh biography, have been acquired by the Van Gogh Academy in Auvers-sur-Oise and are now on display. The photographs, taken in 1922, capture locations in Arles and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer that Van Gogh painted in 1888-89, many of which were destroyed during World War II or later modernization. The albums were obtained by academy founder Wouter van der Veen after a Paris auction in March 2023. Coquiot's images include the Yellow House (demolished after 1944 bombing), the Langlois Bridge (rebuilt and blown up in 1944), the Arles hospital courtyard (now a médiathèque), and the shop of Jules Armand, who sold art supplies to Van Gogh. Coquiot also photographed Dr. Félix Rey, who treated Van Gogh after his ear-cutting incident in December 1888. The exhibition runs until June 20 at 1 Rue François Mitterrand, Auvers-sur-Oise, open Fridays and Saturdays 2pm-6pm.