 |
 |
 |
| Sunflowers
1888 |
| Oil on canvas |
| 100.5
x 76.5cm |
|
 |
| |
 |
With fifteen sunflowers arranged
luxuriantly in a yellow jar around a single flower with an eye-like red dot, Vincent
van Gogh celebrates the vibrancy of life itself, imbuing each individual sunflower
with its own expressional impact.
Van Gogh embarked upon his career as an artist relatively late in life, but left
a legacy of over 2,000 pieces in a mere ten years of work. And of this rich legacy,
his "sunflower" paintings are viewed as symbolizing van Gogh himself,
born out of the travails of a short, intense life ended at the age of 37 when
despair drove him to choose death.
Van Gogh painted twelve "sunflower" works, seven of which date from
his Arles Period, perhaps the painter's artistic high-water mark. Seeking the
bright Japanese quality of light seen in Ukiyoe wodblock prints, the artist settled
in Arles in the south of France, where he rented the "yellow house"
dreaming of establishing a colony of artists. He had planned to decorate the room
he prepared for Gauguin with twelve "Sunflowers." Unfortunately, the
"sunflower," project ended at seven, and his communal life with Gauguin
ended after only two months.
This work is painted on a portion of a 20-meter sheet of canvas purchased by Gauguin
when he came to live and work with van Gogh in Arles. Gauguin's "L'Allee
des Alyscamps, Arles" is also painted on canvas from this sheet. |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
| 1853 -- |
Born in Holland on March 30 as one of the sons of a minister. |
| 1877 -- |
Aspires to be a minister after working since 1869 at a string
of different occupations, including art dealer, language teacher and book store
clerk. |
| 1878 -- |
Appointed as a missionary, but discharged the following year.
Looses his faith and becomes engrossed with sketching. |
| 1880 -- |
Makes decision to become an artist. |
| 1886 -- |
Moves to Paris to live with his brother Theo, his lifelong benefactor.
Becomes acquainted with Toulouse-Lautrec and Gauguin.
Is influenced by the impressionist school and Japanese Ukiyoe woodblock prints. |
| 1888 -- |
Moves to Arles in February. Paints four "Sunflower"
in August.
Begins communal life with Gauguin in October, but discord arises.
Cuts off his ear in December and is hospitalized. |
| 1889 -- |
Resumes work at the end of January. Is in
and out of the hospital, and finally enters the asylum of Saint-Remy in May. |
| 1890 -- |
Attempts suicide with a pistol on July 27 in the Auvers-sur-Oise
suburb of Paris, and dies two days later at the age of 37. |
|
| |
|
| |
TOP |
| |
|
|
