Van Gogh: Twelve Sunflowers In A Vase

Vincent Van Gogh's famous twelve sunflowers in a vase is part of a series the impressionist created for fellow artist Paul Gauguin.

An interesting look into the mindset of Van Gogh was found in his letters, now chronicled in the Van Gogh Museum.

On August 21, 1888 in letter 665 Van Gogh writes to Emile Berard, a French writer and artist:

"I’m thinking of decorating my studio with half a dozen paintings of Sunflowers. A decoration in which harsh or broken yellows will burst against various blue backgrounds, from the palest Veronese to royal blue, framed with thin laths painted in orange lead."

Later that fine day, in letter 667, Vincent writes to his sister that he is painting a bouquet of 12 sunflowers in a yellow earthenware pot:

"At the moment I’m working on a bouquet of 12 sunflowers in a yellow earthenware pot,2 and have a plan to decorate the whole studio with nothing but sunflowers."

"Twelve Sunflowers In A Vase" is owned by and on display at the National Gallery in London.

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