Arles: The Hidden Sketch
Maya loved art, especially Vincent van Gogh. She was visiting Arles for the first time. One sunny afternoon, she walked through a quiet, old street, far from the famous places. She saw a small, dusty antique shop. Curious, she stepped inside.
Inside, the shop was full of old objects, books, and paintings. Maya looked at everything. In a box under a table, she found an old notebook. It looked very simple. When she opened it, she saw many sketches. One drawing caught her eye: a quick sketch of a café terrace at night. It looked very familiar.
Maya looked closer. On the back of the sketch, there was a small, almost faded initial: "V.v.G." Could it be? An old sketch by Van Gogh? Her heart beat faster. She bought the notebook, feeling very excited.
Later, outside the shop, Maya studied the sketch. The café terrace in the drawing looked a little different from the famous one in Arles today. It seemed to be from another part of the city, maybe a forgotten corner.
Maya decided to explore. She showed the sketch to a friendly local man. He looked at it carefully. "Ah, yes," he said. "This looks like the old 'Café de la Place,' but it moved many years ago. The original building is now a small bookstore, down that narrow street."
Maya followed his directions. She found the old building, now a quiet bookstore. Inside, she imagined Van Gogh sitting there, drawing under the gas lamps. The sketch led her to a new, hidden piece of Arles' history and a deeper understanding of the artist's world. It was a wonderful discovery.