Wheat Field with Cypresses (1889 CE)

Vincent van Gogh’s A Wheatfield, with Cypresses (National Gallery version) is a mesmerizing painting that captures the viewer’s imagination with its swirling, vibrant strokes and luminous colors. Painted during a tumultuous period in the artist’s life, this masterpiece pulses with the raw energy of nature and the depth of Van Gogh’s emotional landscape. The golden wheatfield, swaying under the Provençal mistral wind, and the towering cypress trees reaching toward a turbulent sky offer a glimpse into Van Gogh’s soul—a blend of awe for nature’s beauty and a poignant reflection of his inner struggles. This report delves into the painting’s rich history, cultural significance, and technical brilliance, inviting readers to explore one of Van Gogh’s most iconic works.

Created in September 1889, A Wheatfield, with Cypresses emerged from Vincent van Gogh’s time as a voluntary patient at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy, France. Confined between May 1889 and May 1890, Van Gogh turned to the landscapes visible from his window for inspiration, finding solace in the rolling wheatfields and majestic cypress trees framed against the blue Alpilles mountains. Van Gogh’s letters to his brother Theo reveal his fascination with cypresses, describing them as “beautiful as Egyptian obelisks” and imbued with symbolic weight, evoking themes of eternity and the cycle of life. The work belongs to his celebrated Wheatfield series, alongside masterpieces like The Starry Night, and reflects his intense connection to nature during a period of mental turmoil.

The painting’s creation coincided with a pivotal moment in Van Gogh’s life. Struggling with mental health challenges, including episodes of severe depression and hallucinations, he sought refuge in the asylum after the infamous ear incident in Arles. Despite his confinement, his productivity soared, producing over 150 works during his year in Saint-Rémy. A Wheatfield, with Cypresses stands as a testament to his resilience, channeling his emotional and psychological struggles into a canvas that vibrates with life and movement.

Van Gogh’s deep affinity for this composition is evident in his own words; he considered the first version among his finest summer works. This, the National Gallery version, painted with meticulous care in his studio, was one of three iterations, including a smaller replica intended as a gift for his mother and sister, revealing his desire to share his vision with family despite his isolation. A charming anecdote surrounds the 2023 Van Gogh’s Cypresses exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where all three versions were displayed together for the first time. Visitors marveled at the subtle differences—such as the more refined brushwork in the National Gallery version. Another intriguing detail is Van Gogh’s use of the mistral wind as a dynamic force in the composition, inspired by its relentless gusts in Provence, which he described as both exhilarating and disorienting.

The painting occupies a central place in Van Gogh’s oeuvre, bridging the vibrant color palette of impressionism with the emotional intensity of post-impressionism. The painting’s cypress trees, often associated with death and eternity in Mediterranean culture, contrast with the golden wheatfields, symbolizing life and renewal. This duality mirrors Van Gogh’s own philosophical musings on mortality and hope, as expressed in his letters. The work’s rhythmic lines and bold impasto technique influenced later movements, including expressionism, and its emotional resonance has made it one of Van Gogh’s most cherished pieces. Culturally, the painting captures the timeless beauty of the Provençal landscape while reflecting universal themes of human struggle and connection to nature. 

Measuring 72.1 × 90.9 cm (28.4 × 35.8 inches), this oil-on-canvas work showcases Van Gogh’s mastery of color and texture. He employed a rich palette of pigments: zinc white for the swirling clouds, cobalt blue for the vivid sky, chrome yellow for the radiant wheat, viridian and emerald green for the cypresses and bushes, and vermilion for scattered poppies. His signature impasto technique—thick layers of paint applied with vigorous brushstrokes—lends a sculptural quality to the wheat and clouds, creating a sense of movement and depth. A charcoal underdrawing, discovered during conservation studies, reveals Van Gogh’s careful planning, despite the painting’s spontaneous appearance.

The National Gallery version was acquired in 1923 with the Courtauld Fund, a significant moment in its journey to becoming a public treasure. Before this, its early history is less documented, though it was likely retained by Van Gogh’s family after his death in 1890. The painting is typically displayed in Room 43 at the National Gallery, London, where it captivates visitors with its vivid depiction of Provence.