Road with Cypress and Star, by Vincent van Gogh
Road with Cypress and Star, by Vincent van Gogh, is one of the most popular works of the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, his last painting before leaving the asylum Saint-Rémy de Provence (France), where he was interned in May 1890.
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Road with Cypress and Star is one of the most popular works of the Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh, his last painting before leaving the asylum Saint-Rémy de Provence (France), in which he was interned in May 1890.
The composition is divided in half by a very tall cypress tree that extends outside the painting. Van Gogh was fascinated by cypress trees, using them as a theme in many of his paintings. He considered them beautiful in terms of lines and proportions, like an Egyptian obelisk. He also thought that green had a distinct quality compared to other trees.
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The painting clearly shows Vincent's love for nature. Short and wavy brushstrokes, highly contrasting colors, all these details are perfectly captured in this iconic work.
Thus the artist described his painting: “A starry night sky with a moonless sky, the narrow crescent just emerging from the opaque shadow cast by the earth. A star with an exaggerated brightness, a soft pink and green glow in the ultramarine sky, through which some clouds are running. Below, a road lined with tall yellow stalks, behind them the blue sky of the Alps, an old inn with yellow lit windows and a very tall, very straight, very dark cypress. On the road, a yellow carriage with a white horse harnessed and two delayed travelers. Very romantic, if you want, but also Provençal, I think. ”
The composition presents the twilight with a very bright star next to the cypress (representing the obelisk of death) and the crescent moon that was emerging. Vincent was trying to emphasize his belief in rebirth and renewal. It was his interpretation of eternity and life after death.
Some historians say that through this painting, Van Gogh was trying to share his feelings that his death was imminent, as if it were a premonition. This painting was created in May 1890, and the artist died two months later, on July 27, 1890.
But the history holds a bizarre detail: the painting was created at a time when Van Gogh was suffering from health problems and was interned in an asylum.
Title: Road with Cypress and Star
Author: Vincent van Gogh
Year: 1890
Technique: Oil on Canvas
Dimension: 92 x 73 cm
Location: Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, Netherlands
This painting is considered one of Van Gogh's masterpieces and is one of the most famous works of art of the 19th century.
The composition is a mix of natural and artificial elements, making the painting unique and interesting.
The use of strong and contrasting colors is one of the characteristics of Van Gogh's painting and is evident in this work.
The painting is a reflection of the artist's soul and is an expression of his worldview.
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