Vincent van Gogh poppies.

Vincent depicted poppies multiple times, which visibly showcases the developments of his artistic technique. Initially, he painted poppies as flowers in vases and later incorporated them into his dynamic landscapes.

In 1886, while living in Paris, he created ‘Vase with Poppies, Daisies, Corn Flowers, and Peonies,’ as well as ‘Vase with Red Poppies.’ The latter, a long-disputed Van Gogh painting, donated to the permanent collection of the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, was finally attributed to Vincent by the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in 2019.

Close-up of Vase with Red Poppies

The compositions are rather uncomplicated, although the hues are notably vibrant. The red poppies contrast sharply with the dark backgrounds, evoking his adoration for French impressionist Adolphe Monticelli, while demonstrating his exploration of how specific hues enhance one another’s vibrancy. He became progressively captivated by contrasting color, “seeking oppositions of blue with orange, red, and green, yellow, and violet, seeking THE BROKEN AND NEUTRAL TONES to harmonize brutal extremes.” 

Throughout the summer of 1886 in Paris, Vincent painted a vast array of different flowers in vases. It was spring of 1887 when he created his next composition featuring poppies, though this time in a wheatfield scene. The Jan Hulsker catalogue raisonné of the works of Vincent van Gogh lists two versions of ‘Edge of a Wheatfield with Poppies‘: JH 1273 and JH 1274. JH1273 is an oil on canvas on pasteboard owned and currently on display at the Denver Art Museum. 

Edge of a Wheatfield with Poppies

The background of Vase with Cornflowers and Poppies, also painted in the summer of 1887, is significantly more vibrant.

Vincent primarily depicted poppies in landscapes from this juncture onward, shifting away from still life arrangements after leaving Paris for Southern France, with an increased emphasis on portraits and landscapes.

Vincent left Paris for Arles in late February 1888 and got to work immediately, creating three paintings in the first couple of days. Landscape with Snow, An old woman of Arles, and View of a Butcher’s Shop.  – Field of Poppies was painted in May.

Field (or meadow) with Poppies

Not long after Vincent was permitted to leave the grounds of the asylum at Saint-Rémy, he painted Field with Poppies. The entire scenery appears to consist of undulating areas of hue. Predominantly green with red dots scattered, with which one’s viewpoint is drawn further into the scenery. 

The lush green landscape below, also referred to as Fields with Poppies, was painted around the same time, in June 1889. Vincent was working on numerous paintings at the same time, having written to Theo that there have been some fine hot days and he has more canvases on the go, with twelve number 30 canvases on the stocks. 

Field with Poppies was painted on June 14, 1890. Now residing in the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, located just north of Paris. This picturesque setting is where Vincent produced around 80 paintings in a span of 70 days. Numerous pieces depict the tranquil setting of wheatfields and the lush countryside that he was so passionate about.

“Currently I’m working on a field of poppies in some lucerne.”

Poppy Field, or Field with Poppies, exemplifies the multifaceted development of Vincent’s artistic expression over time, marked by diverse styles, techniques, layering, hues, and shading. One can see his Seurat-influenced neo-impressionism in this work, incorporating aspects of the technique to amplify contrast and movement.

Contrary to other references described by the free ‘encyclopedia,’ Butterflies and Poppies was created in Saint-Rémy, not Arles, shortly after his admission to the asylum between May and June 1889. Chronological markers are important for documenting Vincent’s artworks, particularly in the southern region of France, since they provide insights into his psychological state and the reasons behind his choice of specific subjects.

Shortly after arriving at Saint-Rémy, Vincent spent much of his time painting in the asylum gardens.

If you look closely, you can see how Vincent painted the blue background after he painted the poppies and stems.

Vase with Poppies and Daisies was painted in June 1890 while Vincent was living in Auvers-sur-Oise. It is one of many paintings he created at Dr. Gachet’s house not far from his lodgings at Auberge Ravoux. Vincent’s doctor was an avid art and antique collector who owned paintings by Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne, Édouard Manet, Cézanne, Armand Guillaumin, and others. Many artists were friends or patients of the doctor, such as Vincent. 

It was not unusual for Vincent to trade paintings for goods and services such as food and lodging, tobacco, art supplies, alcohol, and even some of his treatments with Dr. Gachet. It is believed that Vase with Poppies and Daisies is one of those paintings.  

Several other artworks by Van Gogh incorporate poppie; however, they are not the primary focus, as shown in these.