Shop art print and framed art Irises by Vincent van Gogh

Historical context of the creation of Iris

When he arrived at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in May 1889, Vincent van Gogh was going through a very dark period in his life. This establishment in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence was home to patients suffering from psychiatric disorders, and it was here that the famous painter would spend just over a year undergoing treatment.

Despite the difficulties he faced on a daily basis, Van Gogh found refuge in artistic creation. He would go on to paint around 150 canvases during his stay in the asylum, including this famous clump of irises. This work is particularly striking, as it bears witness to the way in which the artist appropriated the surrounding nature and managed to sublimate it despite the torments that ran through him.

Analysis of Vincent van Gogh's Iris

If we look closely at this painting, we can distinguish several elements that make these irises by Vincent van Gogh so rich. The artist pays great attention to detail, whether in the rendering of the flower petals or in the representation of the leaves and stems. This meticulousness helps to give the work its realism and depth. The vivid colours, dynamic shapes and freshness of this garden were therefore what made this painting such a success.

The colours

Van Gogh uses a very varied palette of colours to represent the iris flowers. There are shades of blue, violet, yellow and green, which blend harmoniously to bring this flower bed to life. The painter has a perfect mastery of contrasts and lighting effects, inherited from the Impressionist paintings he greatly admired, and thus manages to create a vivid, vibrant picture.

The shapes

The irises are depicted with dynamic and expressive shapes, which give the work all its energy. Van Gogh plays with curves and angles to create movement and breathe a real breath of life into his flowers. This artistic choice testifies to his desire to capture the very essence of nature, and to render the beauty and vitality of plants.

The influence of Japanese art on painting

It is interesting to note that Vincent van Gogh's Iris is heavily influenced by Japanese art. The painter was in fact a great lover of Japanese prints, and he drew inspiration from the techniques of this art to create some of his works, including this famous canvas.

There are a number of characteristic elements of Japanese art in this flowerbed, such as the framing, the contrasts between bright colours and shadowy areas, and the way the flowers are depicted. This blend of styles gives the work a unique and original dimension.

This artwork is a painting from the modern period. It belongs to the post-impressionism style.

« Irises » is kept at J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA.

Find the full description of Irises by Vincent van Gogh on Wikipedia.