Olive Trees
1889
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
28 5/8 x 36 1/4 in. (72.7 x 92.1 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Collection, Gift of Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, 1998, Bequest of Walter H. Annenberg, 2002
Accession Number
1998.325.1
Tags
About this artwork
Olive Trees is a paintings by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, created in 1889. The work was created using oil on canvas. It measures 28 5/8 x 36 1/4 in. (72.7 x 92.1 cm). The painting showcases the artistic techniques and aesthetic sensibilities of its era, reflecting both technical skill and cultural context. Artists of this period developed sophisticated approaches to composition, color, and subject matter that defined their artistic milieu. The work demonstrates mastery of the medium and contr...
Art Historical Context
Vincent van Gogh's *Olive* (1889), an oil on canvas measuring 28⅝ × 36¼ inches, captures the timeless beauty of Provençal landscapes during the artist's final years. Created amid his stay at the Saint-Rémy asylum, this work belongs to a series of olive tree paintings that reflect Van Gogh's deep fascination with the Mediterranean countryside. As a cornerstone of Post-Impressionism, it showcases his revolutionary techniques: bold, swirling brushstrokes, vibrant contrasts of cool blues and earthy greens, and a rhythmic composition that infuses nature with emotional intensity. The olive tree, a ...
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...