The mental asylum in St Remy de Provence was the place Vincent van Gogh stayed for a year. A Year in which he recovered, suffered, and painted. Very productively. We know of 150 paintings he finished that year.
He entered the asylum on his own free will after the episode with the ear. The clinic offered respite and tranquility. It is located about a mile away from the small town of St Remy. Apparently, Vincent only visited the village once during his stay.
The clinic was not fancy but quite advanced for its time. In the rooms of an earlier monastery, doctors treated patients according to their needs. Vincent was eventually allowed to paint under supervision, and he was given an additional room as a studio.
The monastery/clinic is a quiet place. In summer, the cicadas buzz. In the garden, you can see the Alpilles mountain range in the distance. The garden boasts sunflowers, lilies, and even a vineyard. The distressed painter did not move far away from the buildings. There was plenty to take in and depict. Cypress trees along the straight road into town. Today, reproductions allow visitors to see where Vincent planted his easel under the watchful eyes of the supervising attendant.
For van Gogh, the stay proved to be very productive. He was away from the distractions of a town. His experience in Arles and the violent encounter with Gauguin had proved to much for his sensible mind. Here, he could become what he wanted to be: focused on painting.
