Irises

About this artwork

Vincent van Gogh's *Irises* (1890), an oil on canvas measuring 29 x 36¼ inches (73.7 x 92.1 cm), captures the artist's fascination with vibrant floral still lifes during the final year of his life. As a quintessential Post-Impressionist work, it showcases Van Gogh's signature bold brushstrokes, intense colors, and emotional depth, transforming a simple bouquet of irises into a symphony of blues and greens. Painted just months before his death, this piece reflects the heightened expressiveness of his Saint-Rémy period, where nature served as both muse and therapy. The medium of oil on canvas allowed Van Gogh to layer thick impasto textures, giving the petals a lifelike vibrancy and movement that draws viewers into the flower's delicate yet dynamic forms. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Paintings department since its 1958 gift from Adele R. Levy, *Irises* exemplifies late 19th-century technical mastery and the era's shift toward personal, subjective art over academic realism. This still life not only highlights Van Gogh's innovative approach to everyday subjects but also illuminates the cultural interplay of patronage and appreciation, bridging elite collections with universal beauty. A testament to his enduring influence, it invites us to linger on the interplay of light and life in every petal.