Image Gallery
Sunflowers by van Gogh
An 1888 oil on canvas still life, Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase, by Vincent van Gogh (1853-90), the Dutch post-impressionist artist. Painted in August in Arles, France. This is one of several versions of the same theme, all painted to decorate the Yellow House where the artist lived in readiness for a visit from fellow artist Paul Gauguin (1848-1903). Here the two colours of the background contrast with the two colours of the vase to give the picture depth. For the artist, sunflowers signified 'gratitude'. (Neue Pinakothek, Munich)
Bibliography
- Bouruet-Aubertot, Veronique. The Complete Book of Impressionism . Ji Mu Wen Hua, 2020.
- Howard, Michael. Encyclopedia of Impressionism. Thunder Bay Pr, 1997.
- Rubin, James H & Lablanche, Dominique & Manss, Thomas. Impressionism A&I . Phaidon Press, 1999.
- Thomson, Belinda. Impressionism. Thames & Hudson, 2022.
Questions & Answers
How did Impressionism change the art world?
- Impressionism changed the art world because it changed the focus to everyday subjects rather than religious and mythological ones. Impressionist painters also used brighter colours and focussed on capturing momentary scenes of light or human activity.
What is the most famous Impressionist painting?
- Today, probably the most famous impressionist painting is Water Lilies by Claude Monet.
Which Impressionist went blind?
- Claude Monet was an impressionist painter who almost went blind. His sight deteriorated so much he could not distinguish colours or shapes for his work without special glasses and, eventually, an operation.
What changes did post impressionist paintings show?
- Post-Impressionist paintings made changes to impressionism, chiefly adding more symbolism and the more dramatic use of contrasting colours,