The colors of Provence are just different when you’re seeing them in person. You see this photo and the blue of the sky and the ocher of the stone walls looks ordinary to you. But when you’re there, the world of color comes alive in every moment. From the colors you see in nature — the greens of the fields that change depending upon what’s planted and the season, the brilliant reds of the poppies, roses and other abundant flowers — to the colors one finds in the architecture. Color can make you feel happy, peaceful or vibrant, sometimes all at the same time. Each time I see a new color, I just sigh and breathe it in.
A field of poppies, or to me, a field of dreams
Yes, the berries really are this vibrant. When we ate the strawberries, not only were they delicious because they were perfectly ripe, but they tasted more red.
The color of ripe cherries, read for plucking and popping into your mouth while standing under the Provencal sun.
I am in love with the green that I see on countless doors, shutters, furniture and gates. It’s called “amande vert,” or green almond. I should have brought the paint formula back with me, but I doubt it would look the same.
If I had a house in Provence, it would be such a hard decision between the green or the Provençal blue!
This is the color that I want for the natural, healthy blush in my cheeks. Of course, it’s a great color to have in your Provençal rose, and after a few glasses I’m sure my cheeks were that color! So if I follow that logic, I should just have rose every day, n’est ce pas?
But best of all, the color of the LIGHT in Provence is captivating, intriguing and — no pun intended — illuminating. It’s just different. Everything, and everyone, is more beautiful in this light. No wonder Cezanne painted the same scene over and over to “get it right.”
We were charmed by a gorgeous sunset at the Bastide on my last day in Provence. And I can’t wait to return.
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