Vincent Van Gogh

ABC Wednesday: V is for Vincent

Published on June 15, 2011February 28, 2021 by Margaret16 Comments

I’ve already posted one of Van Gogh’s paintings in the ABC Wednesday series – I for Irises. Another painting of his that appeals to me is Church at Auvers-sur-Oise.

Van Gogh Church at Auvers-sur-Oise 1890-6

What I like about it are the colours and the contrast between the deep blue of the sky, the violet and orange roof of the church and the pastel colours of the divided path and grass in the foreground. I love the perspective, so wonky and wavy, and the details of the church.

This painting featured in the Doctor Who episode Vincent and the Doctor, in which the Doctor discovers a strange and malevolent figure in the painting peering out from one of the church window’s. An interesting link, I thought – maybe Van Gogh’s depression had a supernatural cause!

ABC Wednesday – I is for Irises

Published on March 16, 2011February 28, 2021 by Margaret13 Comments

Van Gogh painted Irises after he committed himself to the asylum at Saint Paul-de-Mausole in Saint-Remy, France. He began the painting only one week after he entered the asylum. He was probably influenced by Japanese woodblock prints; the black outlines in Irises is typical of the Japanese prints.

Irises is on the list of the most expensive paintings ever sold, selling for 54 million dollars in 1987.

It’s beautiful.