Why did Van Gogh have a soft spot for sunflowers

Because he painted sunflowers.

Van Gogh expressed his understanding of life to the world through "Sunflowers", treating his family with gratitude, others with kindness, friends with honesty, work with sincerity, life with gratitude, and art with appreciation, just like the sunflowers blooming in front of him.

Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" is like a flickering flame, so gorgeous, gorgeous, and at the same time harmonious, elegant and even delicate, the dynamic and seemingly rotating brushstrokes are so rough and powerful, and the contrast of colors is also simple and strong. However, in this coarseness and simplicity, it is full of wisdom and aura.

Background of creation

In the summer of 1888, the lonely Van Gogh tried to organize a painters' salon in Arles called the "Southern Studio", and invited a number of painters, only Paul Gauguin agreed to go. Gauguin was a friend Van Gogh met in Montmartre, Paris, and they admired each other.

Van Gogh was delighted to receive the news that Gauguin was preparing to go to Arles. In August of the same year, he painted his first "Sunflowers". He originally wanted to paint 12 sunflowers to decorate his rented cottage in Arles for Gauguin's arrival, but just after painting 4 Gauguin came and brought Van Gogh new pigments and a jute canvas.

Gauguin was very fond of Van Gogh's golden combination, and spoke highly of "Sunflowers", which was already hanging in the hut. At the instigation of Gauguin, in October 1888, Van Gogh painted a fifth sunflower with the jute brought by Gauguin. But soon, the two artists had a violent conflict due to differences in artistic concepts, and Van Gogh, who was overemotional, cut off his own ear with a razor.

Gauguin left Arles in terror and left Van Gogh. He only lived here for two months, a short time for Van Gogh, who was looking forward to his arrival.

In January 1889, Van Gogh painted his sixth sunflower in his thoughts of Gauguin, and this time, he inserted 15 sunflowers in the vase, adjusting his style and eliminating all details that might bring realist associations, in order to cater to Gauguin's artistic interests. Because he was going to give this one to Gauguin.

Van Gogh, who has always been stubborn, was willing to compromise on his painting style in order to save Gauguin's friendship. However, all was in vain, and Gauguin never met Van Gogh again after leaving. This sixth "Sunflower" became a tribute to his friendship with Gauguin.

Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" expresses his understanding of life, treating his family with gratitude, others with kindness, friends with honesty, work with sincerity, life with gratitude, and art with appreciation, just like the sunflowers blooming in front of him.

Van Gogh's life was almost squeezed on the edge of fate, suffering from the coldness of the world and the ensuing trauma, but he instead spurred himself to find sunshine in adversity and grow stronger. With an understanding of Van Gogh's suffering life, I look at this work again, and the sunflowers in front of me are no longer simple plants, but sincere and enthusiastic blooming lives, just like Van Gogh himself.

By depicting sunflowers, Van Gogh expressed his understanding of life to the world and showed his unique spiritual world.

Sunflower Language:

The flower language of sunflower is loyal and firm, silently guarding love. The sunflower is always in full bloom so brilliantly, and its flowers are so beautiful and bright. However, it is such a beautiful flower, but it is always open to the sun.

The sunflower is always blooming at the sun, and it seems to be smiling at the sun forever. When you are in love, no matter how proud you are, you always wait gently and smile at the person you like. Therefore, the flower language of sunflowers is the love that is silently guarded.