The story behind Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' paintings

Van Gogh’s paintings of Sunflowers are among his most famous. He did them in Arles, in the south of France, in 1888 and 1889. The sunflower paintings had a special significance for Van Gogh: they communicated ‘gratitude’. While Van Gogh later produced two loose copies of the original Sunflowers series, only one is now in the Van Gogh Museum.

Other paintings in Van Gogh's Sunflowers series

Vincent van Gogh’s series of paintings of Sunflowers are among his most famous creations. There are two such series, the first one executed in Paris in 1887 depicts sunflowers lying on the ground, while the second series was made later in Arles and represents sunflowers in a vase. Van Gogh made four versions of the Arles series in 1888, with different flower arrangements and different backgrounds. A year later, he made three repeats of the Arles series.

These paintings are rarely reunited, with possibly the latest occurrence being an exhibit at the National Gallery in London in 2014 where the original and the Van Gogh Museum repetition were shown side to side.

Other paintings in Van Gogh's Sunflowers series

Vincent van Gogh’s series of paintings of Sunflowers are among his most famous creations. There are two such series, the first one executed in Paris in 1887 depicts sunflowers lying on the ground, while the second series was made later in Arles and represents sunflowers in a vase. Van Gogh made four versions of the Arles series in 1888, with different flower arrangements and different backgrounds. A year later, he made three repeats of the Arles series.

The five versions of a large bunch of sunflowers in a vase are now on display at museums all around the world. One of the paintings from the Arles series is in the Neue Pinakothek Museum in Munich, Germany, and its repetition is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, United States. Another is at the National Gallery in London, England, while its repetitions are at the Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan, and at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The work at the Van Gogh Museum dates to January 1889 and is based on the painting from the summer of 1888. The arrangement of the composition of the painting at the Van Gogh Museum shows that the artist knew in advance exactly how the final work was to look.

Those paintings are rarely reunited, with possibly the latest occurrence being an exhibit at the National Gallery in London in 2014 where the original and the Van Gogh Museum repetition were shown side to side.

Tips to see Sunflowers at Van Gogh Museum

• When to book: Tickets to the Van Gogh Museum are usually sold out three weeks in advance. Therefore, it’s best to book your tickets in advance if you wish to catch a glimpse of Sunflowers.
• Best time to visit: Van Gogh Museum can get crowded. Try to snag the 9am slot for the best experience. If not, visit before 10am. If that doesn’t work either, choose a 3pm or 4pm slot when the majority of the crowds are leaving the museum.
• Join a guided tour: If you're interested in learning more about Van Gogh's life and work, consider joining a guided tour of the museum. Most guided tours also allow you to skip the lines, allowing you more time inside the museum. Alternatively, you can get an interactive audioguide at the information desk.
• Other paintings: Sunflowers is on the second floor of the Van Gogh Museum, among other paintings like the Yellow House and the Scheveningen Beach painting, as well as his personal letters to friends and family.