Vincent Van Gogh: Irises

The work, along with its companion piece Still Life: Vase with Irises, is unusual in that it's one of the few still lifes painted by Van Gogh during his stay at the asylum in Saint-Rémy. Van Gogh painted still life works throughout his ten year career as an artist--from the earliest works in Etten, through to the final works he executed shortly before his death in 1890.

   Interestingly, the one period in which Van Gogh produced very few still lifes was during his stay in Saint-Rémy. Perhaps this was because the surrounding landscape of Saint-Rémy was so inviting--the olive groves and soaring cypresses were far more interesting to Van Gogh who so loved to paint outdoors. Perhaps Vincent was anticipating his upcoming move from the asylum--his home for more than a year--to Auvers-sur-Oise in the north (where Van Gogh would rediscover his love of still life painting).

   The colors are vivid, natural and clear. They are sbright and contrasting, while the texture is harmonious and a little bit blended  with marks made with a brush. So this landscape is light, deep, warm and quiet. The composition is horizontal. In the middle we can see beautiful flowers. I think that it was quite symbolistic. There has been some speculation about the symbolic import of Irises. Some feel that the lone, white iris was Van Gogh's depiction of himself in the asylum isolated and detached from the rest of the staff and inmates.