Fishing Boats by Vincent van Gogh is identified here with Van Gogh’s 1888 Mediterranean seascape commonly titled Fishing Boats at Sea or Seascape at Saintes-Maries, catalogued as F 415 / JH 1452. Van Gogh painted the work during a short visit to Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer on the Mediterranean coast, where the constantly changing colour of the sea fascinated him. The historic oil-on-canvas painting is now in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Alpha Art Gallery offers reproductions as canvas prints, fine art prints, framed prints and 100% hand-painted oil paintings.

About Fishing Boats by Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh travelled from Arles to the Mediterranean fishing village of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer at the end of May 1888. During the visit he painted two seascapes and a view of the village, while also producing several drawings of boats, cottages and the coast.

The work represented here is the larger of his two painted seascapes, F 415 / JH 1452. The original measures approximately 51 × 64 cm and is painted in oil on canvas.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam holds the historical painting. It should not be confused with the separate and larger Fishing Boats on the Beach at Saintes-Maries, F 413, which shows colourful boats drawn onto the shore and is represented by FA-VG-20.

Van Gogh Encounters the Mediterranean

Van Gogh’s visit to Saintes-Maries gave him his first sustained opportunity during the Arles period to study the Mediterranean directly. The experience made a strong impression on him.

In a letter written from the coast, he described the Mediterranean as continually changing in appearance, shifting among green, violet, blue, pink and grey according to light and reflection. Rather than seeing the sea as one stable colour, he understood it as an environment in constant visual transformation.

That observation suited his increasingly expressive approach to paint. Short and directional marks could suggest the surface of water while changing colour relationships created the sensation of movement and reflected light.

What Does Fishing Boats at Sea Depict?

The painting presents small fishing vessels on the Mediterranean rather than boats resting on the beach. Sea and sky dominate the horizontal format, allowing the boats to appear as relatively compact accents within a much larger natural environment.

The subject gave Van Gogh an opportunity to explore movement without relying on figures or architecture. The changing surface of the water, direction of waves, sails and shifting sky provide the visual activity.

Because the vessels are seen within open water, this work is best classified as a seascape rather than a shoreline landscape or beach scene.

Two Seascapes From Saintes-Maries

Van Gogh painted two related seascapes during the trip: F 415 / JH 1452 and the smaller F 417 / JH 1453. His letters distinguish between them, and the works should not be treated as one painting with two titles.

F 415 measures approximately 51 × 64 cm and belongs to the Van Gogh Museum. The smaller F 417 measures approximately 44 × 53 cm and is a separate composition.

The existence of the pair shows how intensely Van Gogh studied the Mediterranean during a very short visit. Rather than completing one generalized marine scene, he repeatedly reconsidered boats, sea and atmosphere.

Colour and Movement on the Mediterranean

Van Gogh’s written description of the sea provides useful context for understanding his marine painting. He was fascinated by colour that changed from moment to moment, particularly where moving water reflected the sky.

This makes the seascapes an important extension of his broader experiments with colour in Arles. Wheat fields, orchards and gardens had already shown him how southern light could transform the appearance of land. At Saintes-Maries, water presented an even less stable surface.

The sea therefore becomes more than a background for fishing vessels. Its changing colour and movement are central subjects in their own right.

Van Gogh and Marine Painting

The Mediterranean paintings also connect with earlier stages of Van Gogh’s career. During his years in the Netherlands he had spent time near Scheveningen, where fishing vessels and North Sea subjects were familiar within the Hague School tradition.

The Saintes-Maries works revisit marine imagery under completely different conditions. The brighter southern palette and more assertive brushwork distinguish them sharply from the subdued atmosphere associated with many Dutch coastal paintings.

The subject remained recognizable, but Van Gogh’s artistic language had changed profoundly.

Post-Impressionism and the Seascape

Van Gogh is primarily associated with Post-Impressionism. In this Mediterranean scene, he begins with direct observation but gives brushwork and colour an independence that goes beyond straightforward descriptive realism.

Water is naturally suited to this approach because its surface never remains fixed. Directional marks can simultaneously indicate waves and remain visible as strokes of paint.

Those exploring other famous artworks can compare this marine work with Van Gogh’s better-known fields and gardens to see how adaptable his mature style was across very different natural subjects.

Historical Artwork Details

The historical painting belongs to the Van Gogh Museum. Alpha Art Gallery sells reproductions and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the museum.

Choose Your Fishing Boats Reproduction

Museum-Quality Canvas Print

Alpha Art Gallery’s canvas prints use 400–450 GSM museum-quality canvas. The horizontal marine composition works particularly well on walls above sofas, consoles and desks.

Fine Art and Framed Prints

A fine art print provides a crisp traditional interpretation of the boats, horizon and changing sea. A frame gives the open marine scene a stronger architectural edge and can help integrate it within a structured interior.

100% Hand-Painted Oil Reproduction

Alpha Art Gallery also offers 100% hand-painted oil reproductions, individually painted by professional artists on canvas. Real paint can be particularly effective with a seascape because the direction of individual marks contributes to the sensation of water and movement.

Where Can I Buy Fishing Boats by Van Gogh?

Alpha Art Gallery offers this 1888 Van Gogh Mediterranean seascape as canvas, fine art, framed and hand-painted oil reproductions in multiple sizes. Secure packaging and free worldwide shipping are included.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Van Gogh paint Fishing Boats?

Van Gogh painted this Mediterranean seascape in early June 1888 during his visit to Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

Where is the original painting?

The F 415 / JH 1452 seascape is held by the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

How large is the original?

The historical oil-on-canvas painting measures approximately 51 × 64 cm.

Is this the painting with boats on the beach?

No. This product is identified with F 415, showing fishing boats at sea. Van Gogh’s F 413 composition of boats pulled onto the beach is a separate artwork.

Why did Van Gogh paint the Mediterranean?

His visit to Saintes-Maries gave him an opportunity to study the colour and movement of the Mediterranean directly. His letters show that its rapidly changing appearance fascinated him.

Can I buy this as a canvas print?

Yes. Alpha Art Gallery offers it on 400–450 GSM museum-quality canvas in multiple sizes.

Is a hand-painted version available?

Yes. Professional artists can individually recreate the composition using oil on canvas with genuine painted texture.

Is worldwide shipping free?

Yes. Alpha Art Gallery offers free worldwide shipping on all orders.

Bring Van Gogh’s Mediterranean Seascape Into Your Space

Fishing Boats at Sea captures Van Gogh’s fascination with the constantly changing colour and motion of the Mediterranean. Choose a canvas print, fine art print, framed version or individually hand-painted oil reproduction to bring this distinctive 1888 marine landscape into your space.