Irises

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

I had a lot of fun painting this iris.  Vincent is known for his many sunflower paintings, but when he moved to Saint-Remy to check himself into the asylum, we begin to see more irises and cypresses in his work.  Of course, there could be a number of reasons for this: perhaps, irises and cypress trees are more prevalent in that area of France.

I always debate with myself how closely to look at the symbolism of what Vincent chose to paint.  He was wildly intelligent and must have known the references and symbolic meanings behind the different flowers and plants he painted.  For example, cypress trees are often associated with death which is why they are often found in cemeteries.  That doesn’t mean Vincent was necessarily thinking about death when painting the cypresses; it could just mean that there was a cemetery near by.

Regardless, I am so grateful for Vincent’s perspective and his interpretation of the simple, yet profound, beauty of the world around him.

Study: “The Iris (After Van Gogh),” acrylic on linen, 9″ x 12″

Van Gogh: “The Iris,” Saint-Remy, May 1889; currently in Ottawa at the National Gallery of Canada

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.