Roses 1890

Vincent van Gogh created this painting of roses at the asylum in Saint-Rémy, just weeks before his death in 1890. During a period of intense personal struggle, Van Gogh found solace and a sense of renewal in the natural world, particularly in flowers. Van Gogh's artistic practice challenges conventional representations of beauty, often associated with femininity, and traditional associations of flowers with idealized notions of domesticity and delicacy. Instead he imbues this floral still life with an emotional depth, expressing the beauty and fragility of life itself. "But these pictures, I can't help feeling, will tell you what I can't say in words, what I consider healthy and fortifying about the countryside" - this is what Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo in a letter. These roses, painted with visible brushstrokes, speak to the artist's state of mind, offering an opportunity to consider the complex interplay between mental health, artistic expression, and societal expectations.