A Wheatfield with Cypresses
Painting on canvas • Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; heavy impasto technique characterized by thick, rhythmic brushstrokes and expressive application of paint to create texture and movement.
Creation Period
September 1889
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 73 cm x 93 cm (28.7 in x 36.6 in); horizontal landscape format.
Subject Description
The painting depicts a golden wheatfield under a turbulent, swirling sky filled with white clouds. A dark, towering cypress tree dominates the right side of the composition, while a silvery-green olive tree sits to the left. The blue-toned Alpilles mountains are visible in the background. The work explores the vitality and cyclical nature of life through high-contrast colors and dynamic movement.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved within a museum environment with stable paint layers and vibrant color retention.
Estimated Market Value
$150,000,000 - $200,000,000+ (Estimated based on historic value and rarity; effectively priceless as a national treasure).
Auction Estimate
$120,000,000 - $180,000,000 (Transactional hypothetical).
Provenance History
Gift to the National Gallery, London, in 1923 by the Courtauld Fund. Previously in the collection of the artist's brother, Theo van Gogh, and later Jo van Gogh-Bonger.
Art Historical Significance
One of Van Gogh's most iconic works, painted during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy. It represents his mastery of landscape as a vehicle for emotional expression and is considered one of his greatest 'summer' landscapes.
Notable Features
Distinguished by the 'flamelike' cypress tree which Van Gogh considered as beautiful in line and proportion as an Egyptian obelisk; housed in a period-appropriate carved gilded wood frame.
Condition Issues
Minor age-related craquelure is present but stable; standard oxidation of the varnish which has been professionally addressed through museum conservation.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity (50% RH) and temperature; archival glass for UV protection; low lighting levels (50-150 lux) to prevent pigment degradation.