Irises
Painting on canvas • Vincent van Gogh
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, characterized by thick impasto application, bold outlines, and dynamic, rhythmic brushstrokes
Creation Period
May 1889
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 71 cm x 93 cm (28 in x 36.5 in), horizontal landscape format
Subject Description
A vibrant garden study featuring a dense grouping of deep blue-violet irises against contrasting yellow-orange background flowers and earthy red soil. A single white iris stands prominently among the blues, creating a focal point. The composition is tightly cropped, emphasizing the flowing, serpentine lines of the green leaves and undulating flower heads.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Museum-quality / Excellent, preserved in a stable environment with vibrant color retention and stable canvas support
Estimated Market Value
Inestimable / Museum Masterpiece (Historical valuations and comparable works exceed $50,000,000 to $100,000,000+)
Auction Estimate
Not applicable for public sale; museum accessioned piece with historical auction records exceeding $53 million in 1987
Provenance History
Painted at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence; passed through various private collections including Julien Tanguy, Octave Mirbeau, and later housed in major museum collections such as the J. Paul Getty Museum
Art Historical Significance
Painted during Van Gogh's stay at the asylum in Saint-Rémy, this work represents a crucial period of intense creativity where he turned to nature for solace. It shows strong Japanese print influences in its framing and flat expanses of color, combined with emotional fervor.
Notable Features
Includes the signature 'Vincent' in the lower right corner. The inclusion of a single white iris amidst the sea of blue creates a deliberate compositional contrast. Framed in a complementary antique gold-leaf molding.
Condition Issues
Minor historical pigment fading typical of nineteenth-century oil paintings, particularly with certain organic red and yellow lakes, but otherwise exceptionally well-preserved with no major structural compromise
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strict climate control with stable relative humidity (45-50 percent) and low-lux LED lighting to prevent further photochemical degradation of sensitive pigments