The Zouave was a legendary French infantry unit that has a long and colorful history. It was first formed in 1831 and was made up of volunteers from Algeria and other parts of North Africa. The Zouave was renowned for its bravery and
From Wikipedia
The Zouave is the subject of several sketches and paintings made by Vincent van Gogh in Arles, France in June 1888. The pieces range from close up oil painting portraits of the Zouave to full-body drawings. Van Gogh produced this collection of pieces during the period he spent in southern France, which many scholars regard as the zenith of his artistic career.Van Gogh nonetheless expressed frustration about his work during this time.