Artwork
Green Wheat Fields, Auvers
Green Wheat Fields, Auvers is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work serves as a direct observation of the French landscape, emphasizing the texture and presence of the tree within the expansive field setting.
Green Wheat Fields, Auvers is a landscape painting by Vincent van Gogh that depicts a rural scene dominated by a tree. As a work classified within the landscape genre, the composition focuses on the natural environment of Auvers-sur-Oise, specifically capturing the visual characteristics of the wheat fields and vegetation. The subject matter centers on the interplay between the agricultural fields and the solitary tree, reflecting the artist's engagement with the countryside during his final months.
The work serves as a direct observation of the French landscape, emphasizing the texture and presence of the tree within the expansive field setting.
History & Provenance
Green Wheat Fields, Auvers was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise. The work passed to the artist's brother, Theo van Gogh, in Paris, and following Theo's death in 1891 ownership passed to his widow, Joanna van Gogh-Bonger, in Amsterdam. The painting was subsequently handled by the Paul Cassirer Gallery in Berlin, which sold it to Curt Herrmann (1854–1929) in 1906.
Herrmann's son, Frederick Henry Herrmann (1898–1983), inherited the piece, holding it in Berlin and London until December 1955, when it was sold through the Carstairs Gallery in New York to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia. Mellon bequeathed the work to the National Gallery of Art in 1999, with a life interest retained by his wife until its release in 2013. It is now held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Overview
Vincent van Gogh's Green Wheat Fields, Auvers, an oil on canvas from 1890, captures a vibrant agricultural landscape. This work exemplifies the artist's Post-Impressionist approach to nature, characterized by dynamic brushwork and a vivid palette. It was created during the final period of his life, reflecting his intense engagement with the natural world around Auvers-sur-Oise.
Technique & Style
Van Gogh employed his characteristic Post-Impressionist technique in this work, utilizing thick, swirling brushstrokes that convey a palpable energy, particularly in the rendering of the wheat. The bold application of oil paint and the vibrant green and blue hues contribute to the painting's expressive quality, a hallmark of his style. This approach aimed to communicate the inherent dynamism of nature.
Context
Created in 1890, Green Wheat Fields, Auvers dates to the last weeks of Van Gogh's life, a period of intense artistic output despite his ongoing struggles with mental illness. As a Dutch Post-Impressionist, he produced over 2,100 works in a decade, with many of his 860 oil paintings completed in his final two years. His innovative use of color and brushwork significantly influenced the trajectory of modern art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.
