Van Gogh's painting of the almond blossom against a blue background was a gift to his brother Theo and his sister-in-law Johanna. It was in honor of the newly born son of Theo and Johanna. The blossom of the almond tree symbolizes the start of new life.
Album: Private Highlights Tour Vincent van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
The brothers Theo and Vincent van Gogh were passionate collectors of Japanese prints. Van Gogh also copied a few copies in oil paint. This Courtesan copied Van Gogh from the cover magazine Paris Illustré - edition May 1886.
Album: Private Highlights Tour Vincent van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
During his stay in Arles, Paul Gauguin painted a portrait of Vincent van Gogh at work. He did that more by heart than by observation. The painting was created in the winter of 1888. And no sunflowers grow in winter.
Album: Private Highlights Tour Vincent van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
"There – once back here I set to work again – the brush however almost falling from my hands and – knowing clearly what I wanted I’ve painted another three large canvases since then. They’re immense stretches of wheatfields under turbulent skies, and I made a point of trying to express sadness, extreme loneliness."
Letter (898) from: Vincent van Gogh
To: Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger
Date: Auvers-sur-Oise, on or about Thursday, 10 July 1890.
Album: Private Highlights Tour Vincent van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
"I’m working on a canvas of roses on bright green background and two canvases of large bouquets of violet Irises, one lot against a pink background in which the effect is harmonious and soft through the combination of greens, pinks, violets. On the contrary, the other violet bouquet (ranging up to pure carmine and Prussian blue) standing out against a striking lemon yellow background with other yellow tones in the vase and the base on which it rests is an effect of terribly disparate complementaries that reinforce each other by their opposition."
Letter (870) from: Vincent van Gogh
To: Theo van Gogh
Date: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Sunday, 11 May 1890
Album: Private Highlights Tour Vincent van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
"Gauguin was telling me the other day — that he’d seen a painting by Claude Monet of sunflowers in a large Japanese vase, very fine. But — he likes mine better."
From: Vincent van Gogh
To: Theo van Gogh
Date: Arles, on or about Monday, 19 November 1888
Album: Private Highlights Tour Vincent van Gogh Museum Amsterdam