Van Gogh revisited (22)

This is the 22nd in a series of Vincent van Gogh’s works that is featured as part of the works on display at the exhibition titled “Van Gogh in Paris: a Dialogue with Modernism” at Seoul Arts Center. ― ED.

Post-Impressionist Vincent van Gogh is known for his bold, intense sunflower paintings. He started to paint sunflowers from the late summer of 1887. Most painters describe the flower in its peak, but Van Gogh chose to capture an unusual moment for his pictures ― withering sunflowers.

"Sunflowers Gone to Seed" (1887), from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, is one of four sunflower paintings van Gogh did in Paris. The sunflowers are withering and lying on a table, instead of in a vase.

Van Gogh was interested in the change the sunflower went through and captured the wilting sunflower from the viewpoint of a realist. The dark background set apart the sunflower's yellow color. He did not depict the petals and seeds in detail, but rather focused on using diverse colors.