Van Gogh’s Irises

In May of 1889, Van Gogh admitted himself to the asylum at Saint Paul-de-Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France.  In his final year of life, he painted some 130 works.  Within the first week at the asylum, he began to paint Irises; the subject matter was inspired by the asylum’s garden to the south of the men’s…

Van Gogh Virtual Tours

A virtual tour is a “simulation of an existing location usually composed of a sequence of video or still images,” according to Wikipedia. So what does that have to do with Van Gogh?  Well, his works are scattered throughout the world and there are some places that, unfortunately, you might not ever have the opportunity…

An Early Watercolor: Coalmine in the Borinage

One of Van Gogh’s first watercolors was Coalmine in the Borinage, completed sometime between July-August of 1879.   In January of 1879, Van Gogh had taken a temporary post as a missionary lay preacher in Petit Wasmes and Cuesmes, villages in the coal mining district of Borinage, Belgium.  Van Gogh was completely committed to helping the…