Vincent van Gogh · May 1890 · Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Butterflies and poppies, F748Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Two pale yellow butterflies pass through a jumble of green stems and red poppies; in this small vertical format, Van Gogh observes the garden very closely and gives the slightest fragment of vegetation the scale of a landscape.
Hand paintedOil on canvasA verified WebP imagePhoto validation
Butterflies and poppies, F748Vincent van Gogh · May 1890 · Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
May 1890Dating
34.5 × 25.5 cmDimensions of the original
Oil on canvasOriginal technique
Van Gogh Museum, AmsterdamConservation
A real paintingThe canvas is hand painted, never printed.
Made to orderEach copy is created individually.
Controlled in photoYou review the completed table before sending.
Possible alterationsAdjustments may precede shipping.
Look at the work
A garden looked at insect height
The framing cuts the stems and leaves on all sides. The two butterflies in the foreground form a clear dot in the middle of the greens, while a third orange insect appears higher up, near a poppy.
The blue-gray background represents neither sky nor horizon: it fills the intervals between the plants. This flat surface, animated by vertical touches, brings out the sinuous silhouettes of the stems and the red corollas.
Painted in Saint-Rémy in May 1890, shortly before Van Gogh's departure for Auvers-sur-Oise, the work combines botanical observation with a very tight framing. The artist started with flowers and butterflies, then placed the blue background around their contours.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
Inventory s0188V1962, dimensions of 34.5 × 25.5 cm and references F748/JH2013 identify this small painting from the Van Gogh Museum.
01
A framing without horizon
The gaze is immersed in the grass. By removing the horizon line, Van Gogh transforms a few isolated flowers into a plant network which seems to extend outside the canvas.
02
Drawing by outline
The dark green stems meander over the light blue like lines of ink. Butterflies are defined by a few flat yellow areas bordered in black.
03
A Japanese influence
The asymmetry, edge-cut patterns and attention to flowers and insects are reminiscent of the Japanese flower and bird prints admired by Van Gogh.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
Butterflies and poppies belong to the latest plant studies carried out within the grounds of the Saint-Rémy asylum.
Catalog
F748 and JH2013
The two catalog numbers distinguish this canvas from other butterfly paintings created by Van Gogh in Arles and Saint-Rémy.
Method
The background painted last
Surface examination shows that the flowers and insects were reserved before the blue gray was applied around them.
Japonism
Flowers, insects and asymmetry
Van Gogh collected Japanese prints; their way of isolating a natural pattern here nourishes the framing and simplification of forms.
The copy must respect the fineness of the stems, the transparency of the wings and the tension between the orange-reds, dark greens and gray blue of the background.
The two pale yellow butterflies in the foreground
The little orange butterfly in the center
The red poppies cut by the frame
The long dark green stems
The blue-gray touches visible between the plants
Work sheet
Title
Butterflies and poppies, F748
Artist
Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890)
Date
May 1890
Place of creation
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Original technique
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
34.5 × 25.5 cm
Inventory
Van Gogh Museum s0188V1962 · F748 · JH2013
Conservation
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Your reproduction
Handmade oil painting on canvas
From order to shipping
1
PreparationStudy of framing, proportions and colors.
2
Oil paintingManual production, layer after layer.
3
Photo validationChecking the table and requesting possible alterations.
4
Protected shippingCareful packaging and shipping with tracking.
In your interior
A very lively small botanical format
This vertical composition is suitable for a bedroom, office or small wall. Poppy red, foliage green, pale yellow and gray blue match light wood and natural textiles.
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 Van Gogh Museum's reproduction measured 2,480 × 3,348 px; it was reduced to 2,222 × 3,000 px and converted into a real WebP.
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.
Oil painting on canvas
Photo before shipping
Canvas rolled, without frame
2px
70 cm
390 cm
Custom order
How does your order work?
A simple and reassuring process, from selecting the size to the tracked delivery of your canvas.
1
You choose the size
Select the desired size before ordering.
2
We paint the canvas
Your reproduction is hand-painted entirely in oil.
3
Photo for validation
We send you a photo to validate the result before shipping.
4
Tracked delivery
You receive your canvas rolled, protected, and shipped with tracking.
Same artist
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