Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Irises" (1890) by Vincent van Gogh is a vibrant and dynamic composition that showcases the Dutch artist's masterful use of color and texture. The painting predominantly features a lush array of blue-violet irises with their sword-like green leaves spreading chaotically in all directions. These exuberant flowers are set against a contrasting ochre-colored background of soil, with sporadic clumps of white-flowered plants peeking through, adding balance to the vivid blues and greens.

The irises themselves vary in posture, some standing tall and proud, others arching or drooping gracefully. Van Gogh’s characteristic thick and expressive brushstrokes lend an impressionistic texture to the petals and leaves, capturing the natural vitality and movement of the plants. The curved lines and swirling forms infuse the scene with a sense of life and energy, making the flowers appear almost animated.

The original "Irises" is housed at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California, part of the J. Paul Getty Museum's renowned collection. It is one of the museum's most cherished pieces and a favorite among visitors.

Vincent van Gogh painted "Irises" in May 1890, during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. This period was near the end of the artist's life, just a few months before his death in July 1890. Despite his struggles with mental health, Van Gogh experienced a prolific phase during his time at the asylum, producing some of his most famous works.

"Irises" is notable for its vibrant, almost joyful palette and the sense of serene beauty it conveys, which contrasts with the artist’s turbulent state of mind at the time. Van Gogh was deeply inspired by the natural world around the asylum and frequently painted scenes from its gardens and surrounding landscapes, portraying them with intense emotional resonance and bold colors.

"Irises" is a quintessential example of Van Gogh's Post-Impressionist style, characterized by vivid, non-naturalistic colors, thick applications of paint (impasto), and dynamic, expressive brushwork. Van Gogh was influenced by various movements, including Impressionism and Japanese ukiyo-e prints, the latter of which can be seen in his composition and use of outlines.

In "Irises," the influence of Japanese prints is evident in the flat areas of color and the stark, almost decorative quality of the flowers. The painting's cropping and arrangement also reflect Van Gogh's admiration for the simplicity and elegance of Japanese art.

- Symbolism: Flowers, particularly irises, were a recurrent motif in Van Gogh's works, symbolizing beauty, transience, and vitality.
- Comparative Work: Van Gogh also painted another famous flower-centric piece, "Sunflowers," which similarly displays his fascination with the transient beauty of nature and showcases his distinctive use of color and texture.
- Auction Record: "Irises" was sold in 1987 for $53.9 million, setting a record at the time for the highest price ever paid for an artwork at auction.

"Irises" continues to captivate viewers with its vivid depiction of nature, embodying Van Gogh's unique ability to transform everyday subjects into profound and visually striking masterpieces.