Cypresses

About this artwork

Vincent van Gogh's monumental "Cypresses" stands as one of his most powerful explorations of the distinctive Mediterranean trees that captivated him during his stay at the asylum in Saint-Rémy. Painted in late June 1889, shortly after his voluntary admission to the psychiatric hospital, this work represents Van Gogh's determination to create significant art despite his mental struggles. The painting depicts a pair of cypress trees in close-up vertical format, their flame-like forms rendered in t...

Art Historical Context

Vincent van Gogh painted *Cypresses* in June 1889 while staying at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, shortly after his voluntary admission. This work belongs to his first series created there, a period of remarkable productivity despite his personal challenges. The painting captures a pair of cypress trees in a tall, vertical format, their flame-like shapes rendered with thick impasto and energetic, swirling brushstrokes that convey constant motion. Van Gogh was deeply fascinated by these Mediterranean trees, writing to his brother Theo that he felt obsessed with them and compared their p...

About the Artist

Vincent van Gogh · 1853–1890

Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853-1890) stands as one of the most influential figures in Western art history, despite a career spanning merely a decade. Born in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands, to a Protestant pastor's family, van Gogh's path to artistic greatness was anything but conventional. His early adulthood saw him working as an art dealer for Goupil & Cie, a language teacher, and a fervent missiona...