Vincent van Gogh is well-known for his artwork that represents different moments throughout his life. Van Gogh wrote letters to his brother, Theo to discuss events occurring in his life while submitting his artwork to him, as he continued to believe and support Vincent van Gogh’s art. In 1889-1890, he was fearful of losing his sanity again, so he submitted himself into the asylum at Saint-Remy-de-Provence in order to be under medical supervision. His moods changed throughout his time in the asylum, while he created The Wheatfield, Garden of the Asylum, Olive Trees, Cypresses, and View of Alpilles. Van Gogh creates visual rhythm through texture, color, and space to complete the composition of this painting while creating the texture of the oil paint that was placed by each stroke of the brush. Van Gogh unifies the canvas through the thick, gestural texture of his paint. In the letter to his brother, Van Gogh would express his moods through his artworks. His fear of losing touch with reality made him focus on the landscape view from his cell. Vincent van Gogh is finding his core sanity again and maintaining strength through such a hard time mentally and physically. Vincent van Gogh’s words to Theo, “my hope would be that at the end of the year I’ll know better than now what I can do and what I want. Then, little by little, an idea will come to me for beginning again. Coming back to Paris or anywhere at the moment doesn’t appeal to me at all. I feel that I’m in the right place here. In my opinion, what most of those who have been here for years are suffering from is an extreme sluggishness. Now, my work will preserve me from that to certain extent.”
Wheatfield
Vincent Van Gogh
June 1888
Medium: Oil on canvas
Van Gogh Museum
“I’ve had a week of concentrated hard work in the wheatfields right in the sun” Vincent wrote to his brother Theo. This piece demonstrates the technique Vincent continues to use throughout the next two years during the time he is in the asylum. The technique of the brush strokes and the color pallet used to capture the colors represented in the landscape he saw. Vincent also represents his moods through his artwork, so the bright colors represent his happiness he feels during the time of the creation of this painting.
Tree and Bushes in the Garden of the Asylum
Vincent Van Gogh
May-June 1889
Medium: Chalk, brush and oil paint and ink, on paper
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
In letter 776, Van Gogh said that he had painted four canvases which included the Garden of the Asylum. “Since I have been here, the neglected garden planted with tall pines under which grows tall and badly tended grass intermingled with various weeds, has provided me with enough work, and I haven’t yet gone outside.” Vincent van Gogh is staying focused on his artwork while focusing on his health. The letter to theo contributes to the idea of capturing the meaning behind the artwork, and that is to stay busy while seeking care.
Wheat Field with Cypresses
Vincent Van Gogh
1889
Medium: Oil on canvas
The Metropolitan Art Museum
In letter number 777 to Theo he wrote, “For the flowers will be short-lived and will be replaced by the yellow wheatfields.” Before Vincent turned himself into the asylum, he focused on his Flowers segment of artwork which represented his time in Arles. He captured the beautiful flowers he found throughout his time in the town. As Vincent continues to represent his location into his art he transitions to the idea of wheatfields and land that is found outside of his cell.
Olive Trees
Vincent Van Gogh
1889
Medium: Oil on canvas
The Metropolitan Art Museum
Vincent van Gogh paints directly from his view of nature but captures a type of painting form called “stippling.” This technique is incorporating dots and small strokes to fill in the necessary space. The dark tones of this painting represent his response to recent compositions by Paul Guaguin and Emile Bernard. Van Gogh’s meaning of this painting is to connect the viewer with the scene of the olive trees by visually emphasizing their senses of smell, the smell of the soil.
Cypresses
Vincent Van Gogh
February 1890
Medium: Oil on canvas
Van Gogh Museum
In the poem, Van Gogh Letters, John Brown states as if the landscape were whipped. The pollard willows I have only sketched pitifully But soon I shall attack the cypresses and the stars ‘Til my heart is just one reality of icyblue on yellow. The artwork that Van Gogh created is primarily in icy blues, greens and yellow which allows the idea that the letters to Theo allowed Van Gogh to express his feelings while being away in the asylum. The coloring of the trees was mentioned in the letter to Theo as he explained the difficult shade of Bottle Green.
View of the Alpilles
Vincent Van Gogh
1890
Medium: Oil on canvas
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
In the letter 829, Vincent van Gogh expresses his desire to continue making artwork capturing the cypresses and of the Alpilles. He is feeling like he is continuing to represent a good reputation for himself considering the events that took place before this time period. The idea of continuing creating these paintings with little return still gives him a purpose and things to do while being admitted. The way this painting captures the mountain ranges he describes in the letters written to Theo allows Theo to connect with the moment Vincent is going through and allows Theo to understand what he is going through.
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