Wheat Field with Cypresses by Vincent van Gogh
This analysis explores Van Gogh’s use of composition, technique, and symbolism in one of his most celebrated summer landscapes, Wheat Field with Cypresses.
Displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, located in gallery 822 on 2nd floor.
Vincent van Gogh is one of the premier artists of the Post-Impressionist era who is posthumously known for his timeless works like The Starry Night, Bedroom in Arles, The Night Café, and Wheat Field with Cypresses. Wheat Field with Cypresses is located in gallery 822 on the second floor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the region dedicated to European paintings from 19th and early 20th century. This was painted in the summer of June 1889 during his voluntary stay at Saint-Rémy and regarded as one of his “best” summer landscape paintings by himself (1). There are four versions of this painting, one was a gift, another was a study, and the final one was a replica created in September of that same year. In this version in particular, heavy use of impasto technique can be used (2), which is when paint is applied directly into the canvas typically in thicker quantities which helps it stand out as compared to with a paintbrush, a staple of the Post-Impressionist period.
Wheat Field with Cypresses is a 28 inches tall by 36 inches wide and is classified as a landscape, specifically depicting a scene Van Gogh saw in the summer of south France in 1889. It could be interpreted as abstract however; it is less abstract than the September version which could be considered conventional by Post-Impresionist standards. It is comprised of various natural objects some disguised with symbolism. These include a wheat field on the lower third, flowers and grass on foreground, a large bush on the left, mountains, on middle background, a cypress tree and a reocurring object in landscape paintings: the sky. Although the painting is illustrated with mostly cool colors, they still collectively bring the appearance of summer thanks to their warmer hues. The Cypress tree is another regularly featured object in Van Gogh paintings that is shown in the middle ground and can be seen reaching towards the sky. Behind it, there are various objects painted in an atmospheric perspective blue which implies there are mountains appearing in the background. Above it is the object that takes up most of the composition of the painting: the sky with half of it being clouds that are painted in circular wave-like patterns, an expression in many of his works featuring the sky.
There are many design principles that can be observed in this work of art, for example emphasis and subordination is shown between the large dark green cypress tree dominating over the golden wheat fields, rumors to symbolically portray the cycle of life and nature with the wheat fields being human growth and the tree to be a symbol of stability during turmoil from the sky (3). Cypress trees also hold other meanings in southern Europe such as death. Another design principle attributed to this is the dark green cypress tree that is contrasted with the bright sunny landscape and sky. The darkness of it seems to balance off the abundance of light. However, the main design principle that is consistently illustrated through his work of art is directional forces and repetition. Anywhere the view can gaze they will go around the painting equally because they are guided by the direction of the brush strokes or color. The content of the painting itself is shown reciprocated by the fact that they all appear like they are being moved by the strong gusts of wind, except for the two obelisk shaped cypress trees that stand tall.
Sources
1 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Vincent van Gogh, Wheat Field with Cypresses, 1889." The Met’s
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Accessed December 7, 2024. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436535
2 Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Impasto." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Last modified November 27, 2023.
https://www.britannica.com/art/impasto
3 Amuze Art Lectures. "Wheat Field with Cypresses (1889) by Vincent van Gogh." YouTube. Last modified
November 11, 2022. https://youtu.be/XwQQ-Cx6iZY