Vincent Van Gogh - “Wheatfield with Crows” 1890
Vincent Van Gogh - “Wheatfield with Crows” 1890 (50.2 cm × 103 cm (19.8 in × 41 in)
The “Wheatfield with Crows” is one of the most depressing yet stunning paintings, created by Van Gogh with Oil on canvas. The painting is highly controversial because it is told that this was one of Van Gogh’s last paintings before his suicide. Many Art historians are often puzzled by Van Gogh’s suicide some say that he was caught in a fight but others say that his “confession” on his deathbed proved elsewise. But either way as artists we shall pay respect to Van Gogh’s death and legacy. The painting itself feels dark, negative but contrasting it also feels freeing, like Van Gogh has given himself up to the callings of death. Often when people are suicidal and they have accepted their planned death they are at peace with themselves, they give in to that desire. The piece feels so free the wheatfield symbolizes life and the impending harvest of death rolls across the canvas. The turmoil of life is shown through the wheatfields constant movement, the bright yellow shows that harvest is near. Harvest brings death and the new cycle of life to the fields, maybe this symbolized Van Gogh's impeded death at the hands of himself a week after this painting was made.
The crows symbolize death; they are freely flying and darting across the sky. The crows' uncertain flight pattern shows the inner turmoil of Van Gogh at the time of the painting; it feels erratic and wild. It is worth noting that none of Van Gogh’s paintings includes crows, often death is symbolized by more distant subjects such as cypress trees. Crows from the longest time are always associated with death, this brings up the question why would Van Gogh approach the subject of death with such a direct way? The rolling of the clouds in the distance also gives the painting movement and shows the distortion of his own mind mentally. I have written and analyzed many van Gogh paintings and they all seem to have erratic rolling skies, a reference to Van Gogh's constant need to find inner peace but he never found it. Shortly after his stay at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole he took his own life. Van Gogh was never able to find that inner peace he yearned for shown in all his later paintings. The paint that leads to the depth of the painting. The never ending path shows Van Gogh’s never ending pursuit for peace and his never ending cling to hope. The end of the path is blurred and smothered, like it has been cut off. Maybe this was foreshadowing to Van Gogh reaching the end of his path, his death.
Amidst the beautiful play on color and landscape Van Gogh was able to capture his soul in this painting. The “Wheatfield with Crows” is truly a memorable and beautiful piece, do you resonate with this painting?
Vincent Van Gogh - “Wheatfield with Crows” 1890 (50.2 cm × 103 cm (19.8 in × 41 in)
