Field with Poppies Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

A description of Vincent van Gogh’s painting "Field of Poppies"

The surrounding nature, and especially the flowers in Van Gogh’s paintings always appeal with inimitable beauty and vividness. The Dutch painter chose landscapes with sunflowers, irises, and lilac bushes for his paintings, as well as expansive fields of poppies and other wildflowers and fruit trees.

In his 1889 painting A Field of Poppies, the author depicts one of the subjects with scarlet poppies in bloom. In addition to this work, Van Gogh devoted many other vivid paintings to poppies. Flowers he depicted surrounded by wildlife or in the genre of still life - in the form of lush bouquets in vases.

"A Field of Poppies" is painted in the Post-Impressionist style. It appears to be a rural landscape. In a village far from the city there are several lonely low houses. Tilled fields with crops alternate with wild thickets of wildflowers. Trees of all varieties tower above them. Numerous poppy flowers stand out brightest of all in this landscape. They bloom like red flames in the bosom of springtime nature. The picture reeks of peace and happy harmony.

In 1889 the Dutch post-impressionist painter was in a hospital. He was recuperating after an ear operation. Van Gogh’s condition improves at times, and at such times he is inspired by the natural landscapes found here in abundance. "The Field of Poppies" was painted along with the master’s other famous works, in which he depicted cypresses, olive trees, and many other picturesque flowers.

The poppy field in the French town of Saint-Rémy was painted by the artist in a characteristic manner. Short winding strokes built the entire composition of the landscape. Van Gogh used natural colors. Above the plains blooming in abundance, he showed a blue cloudy sky.

"The Field of Poppies" is currently housed in a picture gallery in the North German city of Bremen.