Olive Trees. Vincent van Gogh. Vincent van Gogh - Olive Orchard - Google Art Project.jpg (source). Public domain — PD-Art.
Olive Trees
Vincent van Gogh · 1889, June
- Catalog
- F715
- Date
- 1889, June
- Place painted
- Saint-Rémy
- Museum
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
About the painting
This Olive Trees painting from Van Gogh's Saint-Rémy period is a powerful testament to his profound connection with nature and his emotional state. Unlike the serene portrayals of other artists, Van Gogh's olive trees are dynamic and almost alive, their gnarled trunks and branches rendered with swirling, energetic brushstrokes. The sky often echoes this movement, painted with thick, undulating lines of blues and greens, reflecting a turbulent inner world. Van Gogh saw these ancient trees as symbols of enduring life and struggle, their resilience mirroring his own battles during his time at the asylum. This work is a deeply personal and expressive meditation on the landscape, imbued with raw emotion and spiritual intensity.
Collection: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Whether it is currently on view should be confirmed with the museum before visiting.
Research note: this entry is based on an evolving catalog. Dates, attribution, location and visitor information should be verified against the institution’s current records.