the light and color of Provence

As a young art student, I often wondered why so many of the great artists came from the same location in the world...Provence.
Van Goh, Picasso, Chagall, Monet, Cezanne, Degas, Boudin, Renoir, Matisse, ....  
Some of these artists were born in Provence.  Many (more than listed here) came to the region because of its beauty.
Until I visited there I did not fully understand this beauty.  
It starts with the light.  The light there is amazing.  It is hard to put into words. 

Next, the colors of the landscape, the skies and the nature are breathtaking!  

The color of the soil, the crops, the towns and villages are beautiful.  

These famous artists chose these towns and villages and the landscapes because they make beautiful subjects for their paintings. 
And these paintings have become some of the most famous paintings in our lifetimes.


All of these pictures were taken with my cell phone...  Can you imagine if I had my good camera with me?!