His work
at Saint-Rémy
Asylum
During his time at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence from 1889 to 1890, Vincent van Gogh experienced a period of intense creativity. Despite his confinement, his artistic vision thrived. He produced a remarkable body of work, including his iconic masterpiece "The Starry Night." In this painting, he captured the swirling night sky with vibrant brushwork and rich colors, expressing his inner turmoil and longing for solace. Van Gogh's time in the asylum also yielded other notable works such as "Irises" and "Wheat Field with Cypresses," showcasing his ability to infuse ordinary subjects with profound emotion. Despite his mental health challenges, the structured and supportive environment of the asylum allowed him to explore new techniques and push the boundaries of his creativity. His time in Saint-Rémy became a transformative phase in his artistic journey, highlighting his resilience and the enduring power of his artistic legacy.
Almond Blossoms
February 1890, oil on canvas. At Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
Cipresses
June 1889, oil on canvas. At Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo.
Evening Landscape with Rising Moon
July 1889, oil on canvas. At Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
Green Wheat Field with Cypress
June 1889, oil on canvas. At National Gallery in Prague.
The Iris
May 1889, oil on canvas. At National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa.
Irises
May 1889, oil on canvas. At J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA. The first painting Vincent painted while on the Asylum.
Lilacs
May 1889, oil on canvas. At Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Mountainous Landscape Behind Saint-Paul Hospital
June 1889, oil on canvas. At Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen
Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun
November 1889, oil on canvas. At Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, USA.
Olive Trees with the Alpilles in the Background
June 1889, oil on canvas. At MoMA, New York, USA.
Pietà, after Delacroix
September 1889, oil on canvas. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Painted after the piece "Pietà" by the french painter Eugène Delacroix in 1850. A similar piece is at Collection of Modern Religious Art, Vatican City.
Road with Cypress and Star
May 1890, oil on canvas. At Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo.
The Man is at Sea, after Demont-Breton
October 1889, oil on canvas. At a private collection. This piece is after another from the french painter Virginie Demont-Breton, "Her Man is Out to Sea" in 1889. Later that year, Vincent made her version of it while at the asylum. During his time in the asylum Van Gogh painted his surroundings but he also spent time re-creating works by other artists. Van Gogh produced some 30 different copies of works by other artists during his time in the asylum in an attempt to be reinvigorated artistically. He did not simply copy the works but he translated them through his own perspective, medium, colors and techniques..
The Reaper, after Millet
September 1889, oil on canvas. At a private collection. Painted after a piece of the french painter Jean-Francois Millet.
Still Life: Pink Roses in a Vase
May 1890, oil on canvas. At Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
Wheat Field with Cypresses
June 1889, oil on canvas. At Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Starry night
June 1889, oil on canvas. At the MoMA, New York, USA. This is by far the most popular van Gogh painting.