Irises Value Guide

Painted in May 1889 during his first week at the Saint-Rémy-de-Provence asylum, 'Irises' is a seminal work reflecting Van Gogh's fascination with nature as a form of therapy. This oil on canvas is highly collectible for its historical significance as one of the artist's first asylum works and its stylistic bridge between Post-Impressionism and Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock aesthetics.

What Is Irises Worth?

The typical price range for Irises is $200 - $400 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The quality of the reproduction or print, as original Van Gogh works are museum-held, while decorative versions range from $200 to $400.
• The presence of specific stylistic elements like the 'study' quality Van Gogh originally intended for the piece.
• Historical provenance linking the item to the Salon des Indépendants exhibition where it was first displayed in September 1889.
• Physical condition of the canvas and the vibrancy of the pigments used to replicate Van Gogh's specific color palette.

How to Identify Irises?

• Look for strong, dark outlines and flat areas of color characteristic of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print influence.
• Examine the composition for cropped edges and a lack of traditional modeling or depth, which Van Gogh used to emphasize the garden's density.
• Verify the medium as oil on canvas, specifically depicting the iris garden at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in France.
• Identify the distinct 1889 era style, marked by vibrant floral subjects created shortly before the artist's death in 1890.

History of Irises

Irises is an oil painting by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. It is one of many paintings and drawings of irises by Van Gogh, and one of his first works created while he was at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, in the last year before his death in 1890. He began painting 'Irises' within a week of entering the asylum in May 1889, working from the garden at the asylum. The painting was likely influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, as seen in the strong outlines, cropped compositions, and flat areas of color without modeling. He considered this painting a study, but his brother Theo immediately recognized its significance and submitted it to the annual Salon des Indépendants in Paris, where it was displayed in September 1889. It is now one of Van Gogh's most famous and celebrated works.