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This painting was created during Van Gogh’s stay in Arles, in the south of France. There, he lived and sought inspiration for new works through interaction with nature. This very theme is central to the painting "Seascape near Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer."
The sea here is noisy and uncontrollable, wearing down the stones and rocking the ships. The dynamic nature of the scene is enhanced by the variety of colors used in the impressionistic rendering of the waves and sky. At the same time, it reflects the artist’s emotional state at the time — unstable and capricious, as Vincent was actively battling a severe psychiatric diagnosis.