Vincent Van Gogh - “Irises” 1889

I’m currently extremely obsessed with studying Van Gogh paintings so let’s analyze another Van Gogh painting. This painting is called “Irises” painted by Vincent Van Gogh with Oil on Canvas. The dimensions are 71 cm × 93 cm (28 in × 37 in) it is quite big compared to other Van Gogh paintings. This painting was created during Van Gogh’s stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in France. The painting depicts flowers that were in the garden of the asylum, the painting is truly beautiful, the contrast between the purple and the green, and Van Gogh’s use of Impasto (layering thick paint) gives the painting life. Looking at this painting I can almost imagine Van Gogh walking through the garden in his healing state. As someone who sought peace and refuge in the asylum Van Gogh sought peace in the flowers in the garden. 

The painting looks messy and outgrown, the flowers are wild and messy, they grow how they want to, they're not confined to one singular place. The leaves of the flowers seem to be in motion. Each flower looks different from each other. Van Gogh was also influenced by Japanese woodblock prints, which often depicted flowers, birds, and nature scenes with fun bold colors. The flowers have a sense of beauty of wildness, they are not systematic like people’s lives. The wild flowers are a way for Van Gogh to express his desire for clarity, to find peace in himself at the asylum. He knows his mental health is declining and he yearns for beauty, peace, and quietness in his head. The wild flowers show the turmoil of his life but also depicts the beauty and expressiveness he has and wants to show to other people. Art is healing to many and for Van Gogh it is no different, his works that he had created while he stayed at the asylum was able to help him through his mental state. He finds comfort in the beauty of nature, the peaceful but wildness of the flowers, they grow as free as they would like, and Van Gogh yearns for that freedom. 

The colors of the painting are natural and brilliantly contrasted with each other. The brightness of the green creates a peaceful feeling with the dark purple of the flowers popping out. The composition is truly beautiful. Do you ever reflect on the beauties of nature?

Vincent Van Gogh - “Irises” 1889 (71 cm × 93 cm (28 in × 37 in)