À propos de l’œuvre
Oliviers, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · June -July 1889 · Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
The OlivesReproduction of oil painting on canvas
Under a sky covered with a large white cloud, the gnarled olive trees unfold in front of the ridges of the Alpilles. Van Gogh constructs this landscape in broad daylight like the luminous counterpart of Starry Night.
Look at the work
An orchard in motion under the heat of Provence
The dark trunks wrap around in the foreground, then the trees gradually diminish to the mountains. The ground is never flat: white, green, blue and ocher curves go around each stump and lead the gaze towards the horizon.
The Alpilles form a blue-purple line, as cut out as a woodcut. Above, the white and yellow cloud takes up the undulations of the trees; sky, mountain and earth seem animated by the same continuous rhythm.
This painting does not only describe olive trees: it transforms the warmth, relief and air of Saint-Rémy into a network of lines that respond to each other.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
MoMA keeps this oil on canvas under inventory 581.1998. It is cataloged F712/JH1740.
A very low foreground
The trunk cut in the lower left corner and the long, clear curves of the ground give the impression of entering the orchard. Reproduction must preserve this abrupt start without straightening the land.
Mountains with accentuated contours
The dark blue ridges are lined with firm lines. Van Gogh himself admitted to having exaggerated the contours, bringing their rhythm closer to that of old woodcuts.
A cloud that responds to trees
The white mass is not a simple atmospheric background. Its yellow and blue curls extend the twists of the foliage and unify the entire surface of the painting.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
Les Oliviers measures 72.6 × 91.4 cm. Painted in June - July 1889, the work bears the references F712/JH1740 and the MoMA inventory 581.1998.
The daytime counterpart of Starry Night
Van Gogh's letters associate this olive landscape with his study of the night sky. The museum presents them as two complementary researches on the intensification of nature.
The Alpilles behind the orchard
The two peaks visible in the background allow the scene to be precisely anchored in the landscape of Saint-Rémy, even if Van Gogh strongly accentuates the profiles.
Legacy of Mrs. John Hay Whitney
The painting entered the Museum of Modern Art in 1998 by the bequest of Mrs. John Hay Whitney. It is registered under number 581.1998.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must preserve the gnarled olive trees, the clear curves of the ground, the blue-purple ridge of the Alpilles and the large cloud whose movement crosses the sky.
- The blue-black contours that articulate each trunk
- The silvery greens and yellows of the foliage
- The long white and blue waves in the foreground
- Rhythmic continuity between trees, mountains and cloud
Work sheet
| Title | The Olives |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | June -July 1889 |
| Place of creation | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 72.6 × 91.4 cm |
| Inventory | MoMA 581.1998 · F712 · JH1740 |
| Conservation | Museum of Modern Art, New York |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
Silver greens under a bright blue sky
Horizontal format is suitable above sofa, sideboard or bed. Blue, sage green and cream yellow match light oak, stone and warm white walls.
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?
Public domain reproduction of 3,840 × 3,055 px has been reduced to true WebP of 3,000 × 2,387 px, without cropping.
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.
