VINCENT VAN GOGH - Irises

THE ARTWORK

Irises (1889) by Vincent van Gogh is one of his most celebrated works, painted during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. Created in the year leading up to his death, Irises is a vibrant and lively depiction of the flowers growing in the asylum’s garden. The painting features bold, flowing lines and rich, expressive colors, with Van Gogh's characteristic thick, textured brushstrokes bringing the flowers to life.

Despite being in the asylum, Irises exudes a sense of calm and vitality. Van Gogh believed that painting helped to stabilize his mental health, and this piece reflects his connection to nature’s beauty. The composition is heavily influenced by Japanese woodblock prints, evident in its strong outlines and flattened perspective.

Although Irises was not intended as a finished work, it remains one of Van Gogh’s most popular and recognizable paintings, symbolizing his enduring optimism despite his personal struggles.

THE ARTIST

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter whose work had a profound impact on 20th-century art despite his short and troubled life. Born in the Netherlands, Van Gogh initially pursued careers as an art dealer and preacher before committing to painting in his late twenties. He produced over 2,000 artworks, including around 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings, in just a decade.

His early works, like The Potato Eaters (1885), depicted the harsh realities of peasant life, rendered in dark tones. After moving to Paris in 1886, Van Gogh encountered the vibrant colors of the Impressionists, which profoundly influenced his later work. Moving to the south of France, he created some of his most famous pieces, including Sunflowers, Starry Night, and Irises, characterized by bold colors, expressive brushwork, and emotional intensity.

Throughout his life, Van Gogh struggled with mental illness, famously cutting off part of his ear after an argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin. Despite these challenges, he remained intensely prolific. Van Gogh sold very few works during his lifetime, dying by suicide at the age of 37. Today, he is celebrated as one of the most influential and beloved artists in history.

THE PRINT

• A4 Size = 29.7cm x 21cm = 11.7" x 8.25"
• A3 Size = 42cm x 29.7cm = 16.5" x 11.7"
• High resolution giclée print - 600dpi
• Printed to order
• Unframed & unmounted
• Professionally printed using Canon imagePROGRAF printers
• Digitally restored by OharaPrints from high resolution scans of the original artwork
• Made in and shipped from Casterton, Victoria, Australia

PAPER

• Canson Infinity - Arches BFK Rives White
• Paper weight = 310gsm
• 100% cotton
• Archival, museum grade
• Acid free
• No OBAs (optical brightening agents)

Arches BFK Rives is a high-quality, archival-grade paper manufactured at the Arches paper mill in France - one of the oldest papermakers in Europe. It is made from 100% cotton rag using a time-honoured manufacturing process, giving the paper exceptional durability, longevity, and resistance to yellowing or deterioration over time. Despite its substantial weight and thickness it maintains a very soft and supple feel. The paper has a natural white tone and is completely free of any optical brighteners (OBAs), allowing for superb colour rendition and deep blacks.

INK

• Canon Lucia Pro Inks
• Pigment based
• Archival, museum-grade
• Brilliant colours, even gradient and razor-sharp lines
• Highly stable and fade resistant, excellent humidity-fastness

SHIPPING & HANDLING

• All orders are dispatched on the NEXT BUSINESS DAY after receiving the order
• All prints are shipped via AUSTRALIA POST with TRACKING
• For postage rates and estimated delivery times please see our SHIPPING page
• All prints are shipped flat, not rolled
• Each print is individually placed into a resealable, archival grade plastic protective sleeve
• Prints are carefully packaged in very sturdy 700gsm cardboard envelopes, along with 1050gsm boxboard sheets which provide extra strength & rigidity to prevent bending or folding during transit