When Paul Gauguin arrived in Arles in 1888 to work alongside Vincent van Gogh, the two artists embarked on a brief but intense period of collaboration and rivalry. During this time, they both painted the ancient Roman necropolis known as Les Alyscamps, a tree-lined avenue outside the city, resulting in a small series of works by each artist. It is remarkable that within just a few weeks, both painters produced multiple interpretations of the same site, each reflecting their evolving styles and philosophies.

This shared subject became a silent battleground for their differing visions, with Gauguin later recalling the experience as a turning point in his quest for "synthesis" in painting. In Les Alyscamps, Gauguin captures a pair of women strolling along the poplar-lined path, their figures elongated and almost dreamlike against the autumnal glow. The ancient sarcophagi, scattered along the avenue, are rendered with a certain indifference, their stony forms blending into the rhythm of the trees. The women, dressed in local costume, seem to float between worlds—the living and the dead—suggesting themes of memory and passage.

The bold, flat colors and strong outlines mark a decisive move away from naturalism, anticipating Gauguin’s later Synthetist approach. Unlike Van Gogh’s own Les Alyscamps, which pulses with agitated brushwork and fiery color, Gauguin’s version is calmer, more symbolic, inviting the viewer to linger on the mystery of the scene. The exact medium of this Les Alyscamps is not always specified, but it is generally believed to be oil on canvas, a favored support for Gauguin at this stage. After its creation, the painting passed through several hands, including notable collectors in France and abroad, reflecting the growing appreciation for Gauguin’s work in the early twentieth century.

Today, this painting is recognized as a key example of the artist’s Arles period, a brief but vital chapter before his departure for Brittany and, eventually, Tahiti. The Les Alyscamps series stands as a testament to the fertile, if fraught, partnership between Gauguin and Van Gogh, and to the restless experimentation that would define Gauguin’s later career.