Who painted Thatched Cottages and Houses?

Thatched Cottages and Houses was painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1890.

Where can I see Thatched Cottages and Houses?

Thatched Cottages and Houses is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Thatched Cottages and Houses?

Thatched Cottages and Houses is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Thatched Cottages and Houses?

Museum-quality prints of Thatched Cottages and Houses are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Thatched Cottages and Houses

Vincent van Gogh , 1890

Thatched Cottages and Houses is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Van Gogh painted Thatched Cottages and Houses in May 1890. He used oil paint while living in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. The work is now at the State Hermitage Museum.

It shows thatched cottages in the village of Cordeville. Van Gogh often painted rural scenes near where he stayed. This was one of his final works before his death.

Check out the artist Vincent van Gogh next.

Overview

Vincent van Gogh created the oil painting Thatched Cottages and Houses in May 1890 while residing in the small town of Auvers-sur-Oise, north of Paris. The work portrays a cluster of thatched-roof dwellings set against a gently rolling landscape, rendered with the vivid palette that characterises his brief Auvers period.

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses on the rustic cottages of the hamlet of Cordeville, surrounded by fields of peas in bloom and a strip of wheat in the foreground. Van Gogh’s choice of a modest, agricultural scene reflects his ongoing interest in the everyday life of the French countryside and his desire to capture its fleeting light and colour.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs brisk, impasto brushwork and a bright, contrasting colour scheme that distinguishes it from his earlier Saint‑Rémy works. The sky and fields are rendered with swift, expressive strokes, while the thatched roofs are outlined with a slightly more restrained hand, creating a balance between spontaneity and structure.

History & Provenance

Van Gogh referred to this work in a letter dated 21 May 1890 to his brother Theo and sister‑in‑law Jo, describing it as a study of thatched roofs, peas, and wheat. Scholars place it among a group of roughly twenty paintings produced in the first weeks after his arrival in Auvers. The canvas entered the collection of the Musée d’Orsay, where it remains on display.