À propos de l’œuvre
Les Iris, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · May 1890 · Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
The IrisReproduction of oil painting on canvas
Long green leaves and blue corollas unfold around a white porcelain vase. The colors visible today are colder than those of 1890: the background was pink and the irises purple.
Look at the work
A horizontal bouquet constructed like a fan
The white vase is placed slightly to the left of the center. The pointed leaves spread in several directions, while the open flowers, buds and faded petals draw an irregular line across the entire width.
The green table forms a low band, separated from the light wall by a dark line. The blue-black contours give each leaf and each petal an almost graphic clarity, inspired by Japanese prints.
The vase stabilizes the canvas, but the bouquet refuses any immobility: leaves, stems and corollas extend their movement to the four edges.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The Met retains this still life under number 58.187. It bears the references F680/JH1978 and belongs to the final group of the two Iris and the two Roses.
A pink and purple harmony disappeared
Van Gogh wanted a soft effect by contrasting the purple irises with a pink wall. The red lacquers have turned pale: the flowers now appear blue and the background almost white.
The vase integrated into the bottom
The white of the container reflects the light tones of the wall. Its blue outline, its handle and a slight shadow are enough to give it volume without interrupting the growth of the leaves.
Botany without repetition
Each flower has a different orientation and state. Some corollas are fully open, others fold or remain in bud, which gives the bouquet its duration.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
Les Iris is an oil on canvas measuring 73.7 × 92.1 cm, painted in Saint-Rémy in May 1890. It bears inventory 58,187 and references F680/JH1978.
Four bouquets before departure
Van Gogh painted two iris and two rose canvases just before leaving the asylum. It varies formats and complementary pairings in order to design a decorative ensemble.
A second iris canvas in Amsterdam
The vertical version of the Van Gogh Museum places the flowers on a yellow background. This sheet corresponds only to the large horizontal composition of the Met.
Don Adele R. Levy in 1958
The painting entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art by donation from Adele R. Levy and has since been object number 58.187.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
Reproduction must distinguish each corolla, preserve the blue contours of the leaves, the finesse of the vase and the cream and pink variations of the now discolored background.
- Blue irises with all different shapes
- The long green leaves bordered in dark blue
- The white vase slightly off-center
- The turquoise green stripe of the table
Work sheet
| Title | The Iris |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | May 1890 |
| Place of creation | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 73.7 × 92.1 cm |
| Inventory | 58.187 · F680 · JH1978 |
| Conservation | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A large blue bouquet for a bright room
The horizontal format is suitable above a sideboard, bed or sofa. Blues and greens stay fresh on a cream, powder pink or very light gray wall.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The Met's Open Access image has been converted to a true 3,000 × 2,379 px WebP, without artificial enlargement.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
