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The story behind Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' paintings

Van Gogh’s paintings of Sunflowers are among his most famous. He did them in Arles, in the south of France, in 1888 and 1889. The sunflower paintings had a special significance for Van Gogh: they communicated ‘gratitude’. While Van Gogh later produced two loose copies of the original Sunflowers series, only one is now in the Van Gogh Museum.

Key details and facts about 'Sunflowers'

  • Date: 1889
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 95 cm x 73 cm
  • Versions: 7 of which 5 are of sunflowers in vases. Of the other two, one is privately owned and the other was lost during World War II
  • Purpose: Two versions of Sunflowers and the Woman Rocking the Cradle together were meant to form a triptych to symbolize gratitude.
  • Significance: Van Gogh wanted to be known as the painter of sunflowers. At his funeral, people brought sunflowers, making the flower synonymous with his name as he hoped.
  • Relation with Gaugin: Van Gogh decorated Paul Gaugin’s guest bedroom with his sunflower paintings.

Other paintings in Van Gogh's Sunflowers series

Vincent van Gogh’s series of paintings of Sunflowers are among his most famous creations. There are two such series, the first one executed in Paris in 1887 depicts sunflowers lying on the ground, while the second series was made later in Arles and represents sunflowers in a vase. Van Gogh made four versions of the Arles series in 1888, with different flower arrangements and different backgrounds. A year later, he made three repeats of the Arles series.

These paintings are rarely reunited, with possibly the latest occurrence being an exhibit at the National Gallery in London in 2014 where the original and the Van Gogh Museum repetition were shown side by side.

A closer look at Van Gogh’s 'Sunflowers'

The sunflower pictures were among the first paintings Van Gogh produced in Arles that show his signature expressive style. No other artist has been so closely associated with a specific flower, and these pictures are among Van Gogh’s most iconic and best-loved works.

Added wooden strip

The research also confirms that the wooden strip, painted yellow and fixed to the top of the canvas, is an original extension of the composition. This means Van Gogh added the strip himself during the painting process.

Origin of the canvas

Researchers have studied the fabric pattern using computer analysis, tracing the origin of the canvas of Sunflowers to a particular roll of linen. It also tells us which other paintings were produced on pieces of canvas that Van Gogh cut from the same roll.

Painting techniques

Van Gogh's Sunflowers uses a range of techniques, from tiny pointillist dots to thick sculptural strokes. He also breaks the color theories followed by the Impressionists of placing opposing colors next to each other. Instead, he painted yellow against yellow.

Colors used

Van Gogh used commercial oil paints for his paintings. Some of the original colors are partly lost due to discoloration. The color changes are mainly caused by a type of red paint (geranium lake) fading and a type of yellow paint (chrome yellow) darkening.

Varnishes and retouches

Various restorations were carried out on the work. There are multiple layers of varnish added later by someone other than Van Gogh. These are dirty and yellowed, but cannot be removed because the paint and varnish have mixed.

What they meant to Van Gogh

The different stages in the sunflower’s life cycle, from young bud to maturity and decay, follow the vanitas tradition of Dutch 17th-century flower paintings. The sunflowers were intended to be a symbol of friendship and a celebration of the beauty and vitality of nature.

About Van Gogh

  • Early life: Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890) was born a minister’s son in Holland. He decided to be a painter at the age of 27, enrolling himself at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.
  • Start of painting career: During the 10 years until his death, he created more than 2,000 works, including drawings. He started his career by depicting the peasant life he saw in his early years. After his period in Paris, where he was influenced by Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism, he finally established his own style, defined by dynamic brush strokes and bright colors. 
  • Peak of his career: In 1888, he moved to Arles in the south of France where he rented the Yellow House and planned to live with his fellow painter friends. At the end of October, he began living with Paul Gauguin.
  • Depression: Two months later, on December 23, Van Gogh mutilates his left ear after an argument with Gauguin and enters a hospital in Arles. He also spent time at the mental asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence where he painted The Starry Night, Irises, and some of his most famous works. Van Gogh died on July 29, 1890, from a gunshot wound to the chest.
  • Inspiration: Van Gogh is regarded as a representative painter of Post-Impressionism, along with Paul Gauguin and Paul Cézanne, and had a major influence on the art of the 20th century, including Expressionism and Fauvism.

Cultural impact of Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers'

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Studies by doctors and scientists

Biologists have studied how bees interact with those paintings and the genetic fabric of the sunflowers, and doctors have attempted to associate his medical conditions and related treatments with his perception of colors.

Art vs reality

The green color of the stems is similar to the green stems of real sunflowers. On the other hand, the yellow flowers are darker than the vibrant yellow petals of a real sunflower. This could have been Van Gogh’s intent as he used real sunflowers as models when the flowers started to fade.

Influence on modern art

The striking color, emphatic brushwork, and contoured forms of his work powerfully influenced the current of Expressionism in modern art, particularly in the works of the Fauve painters, Chaim Soutine, and the German Expressionists.

Inspiration for artists

Partly because of his published letters, Van Gogh has also been mythologized as the quintessential tortured artist. This mythical Van Gogh has become almost inseparable from his art, inspiring artists to dramatize his saga in poems, novels, films, operas, dance sequences, orchestras, and songs.

Tips to see Sunflowers at Van Gogh Museum

  • When to book: Tickets to the Van Gogh Museum are usually sold out three weeks in advance. Therefore, it’s best to book your tickets in advance if you wish to catch a glimpse of Sunflowers.
  • Best time to visit: The Van Gogh Museum can get crowded. Try to snag the 9am slot for the best experience. If not, visit before 10am. If that doesn’t work either, choose a 3pm or 4pm slot when the majority of the crowds are leaving the museum.
  • Join a guided tour: If you're interested in learning more about Van Gogh's life and work, consider joining a guided tour of the museum. Most guided tours also allow you to skip the lines, allowing you more time inside the museum. Alternatively, you can get an interactive audioguide at the information desk.
  • Other paintings: Sunflowers is on the second floor of the Van Gogh Museum, among other paintings like the Yellow House and the Scheveningen Beach painting, as well as his personal letters to friends and family.

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Gogh’s 'Sunflowers'

Yes, your entry ticket allows you to view Sunflowers at no additional cost.