Almond Blossom - Van Gogh
Almond Blossom Vincent van Gogh
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, February 1890
oil on canvas, 73.3 × 92.4 cm
Vincent van Gogh was an artist of intensity—of color, emotion, and relationships. He painted quickly and passionately, as if afraid he might not manage to say everything in time. One of the most important people in his life was his brother Theo, who supported him both financially and emotionally. Their correspondence remains one of the most moving records of a bond between an artist and another human being.
“Large blossom branches set against a blue sky were among Van Gogh’s favorite subjects. Almond trees flower early in the spring, which has long made them a symbol of new life and beginnings. Van Gogh borrowed the subject, the bold outlines, and the positioning of the tree within the picture plane from Japanese printmaking.
The painting was a gift for his brother Theo and sister-in-law Jo on the occasion of the birth of their son, Vincent Willem. In the letter announcing the new arrival, Theo wrote:
“As we told you, we’ll name him after you, and I’m making the wish that he may be as determined and as courageous as you.”
Unsurprisingly, this work remained especially close to the hearts of the Van Gogh family. Vincent Willem would later go on to found the Van Gogh Museum.”
Today, on the very first day of the new year, I wanted to return to a painting many of you know well. I saw it together with my mother when we visited the Van Gogh Museum—a place I wholeheartedly recommend.
At first glance, it’s clear how different Almond Blossom is from many of Van Gogh’s other works. It is filled with warmth, hope, and light. Painted to celebrate the birth of his nephew Vincent Willem—the son of Theo, with whom Vincent shared an exceptionally close bond—it carries a quiet sense of joy.
This painting feels remarkably soft. Gentle. Compared to many of Van Gogh’s other works, it has something soothing about it—as if you could almost feel the fragility of the almond blossoms against the bright, tranquil sky.
The influence of Japanese ukiyo-e prints is clearly present here, visible in the composition, the rhythm of the branches, and the harmony of colors. The painting is bright and optimistic, filled with stillness and balance—qualities that set it apart within the artist’s body of work.
Almond Blossom expresses the joy of a child’s birth, but it carries more than that: hope for the future, and a personal moment of breath after illness. The almond flower becomes a symbol of new beginnings, life, and renewal.
It’s worth remembering that this work was created during a difficult period in Van Gogh’s life. That is precisely why it feels so moving—as a quiet, deeply felt expression of optimism and faith in a brighter tomorrow.
And so I hope that no matter where you find yourself in your life right now, this painting will leave you with a thought of tomorrow—one filled with warmth and hope.
