Irises in Vase Painting by Vincent van Gogh reproduces the 1890 still life officially titled Irises by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Van Gogh painted the sweeping bouquet at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in May 1890, shortly before leaving Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. The historical flowers were originally more violet and the background distinctly pink, but light-sensitive red pigments faded over time. The oil-on-canvas original is now held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Alpha Art Gallery offers reproductions as canvas prints, fine art prints, framed prints and 100% hand-painted oil paintings.

About Irises in Vase by Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh created this floral still life during the final days of his year at Saint-Rémy. The Met records the painting as an oil on canvas measuring approximately 73.7 × 92.1 cm and identifies it by museum object number 58.187.

The composition is horizontal, allowing long leaves, stems and blossoms to spread widely across the canvas. This is different from the famous 1889 Irises at the J. Paul Getty Museum, which shows flowers growing outdoors in the hospital garden.

This 1890 painting is a true floral still life: the irises have been cut and placed in a vase.

One of Four Flower Paintings From May 1890

Immediately before leaving Saint-Rémy, Van Gogh produced an exceptional group of four flower paintings—two arrangements of irises and two of roses.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s horizontal Irises forms part of this ensemble. Its upright iris counterpart is in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, while the two rose compositions are divided between The Met and the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Van Gogh deliberately varied orientation and colour relationships across these works. They therefore function not simply as four independent bouquets but as a concentrated exploration of format and colour.

The Irises Were Originally More Violet

The modern appearance of the painting can be misleading. Van Gogh intended the flowers to read as violet against a pink background. Today they appear considerably bluer, while much of the background looks pale.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art attributes these changes to fading red pigments. When part of the red component disappeared from violet paint, the remaining colour shifted toward blue. Similar fading caused the pink background to become much less intense.

This material history adds another layer to the work. Viewers are seeing a nineteenth-century painting that has physically changed rather than an image frozen permanently in its 1890 state.

A “Harmonious and Soft” Colour Effect

Van Gogh contrasted this horizontal bouquet with the more forceful upright iris painting. For The Met composition, he wanted violet flowers against pink to produce a harmonious, soft effect.

The companion upright composition used stronger complementary opposition, placing violet irises against a yellow background.

The comparison shows that Van Gogh’s colour choices were highly deliberate. He was not simply reproducing the natural appearance of the flowers and room but constructing different visual experiences from the same botanical subject.

Movement Through Leaves and Flowers

One of the most distinctive qualities of the painting is the sweeping movement of the foliage. Long leaves bend and curve across the wide canvas while flower heads turn in several directions.

The arrangement therefore avoids the rigid symmetry of a formal bouquet. Van Gogh gives the flowers the restless vitality more often associated with plants growing outdoors.

This flowing linear character can become especially effective at larger reproduction sizes, where individual leaves and blossoms have more room to remain visually distinct.

Brushwork and Surface

The Met describes the painting through its confident, sinuous brushwork. The physical direction of the marks follows leaves, stems and petals, helping convert an arrangement of flowers into a dynamic painted structure.

For reproduction buyers, there is a meaningful distinction between formats. A print reproduces the visible appearance of those marks. A hand-painted oil reproduction adds genuine physical brushwork and texture to the new artwork.

Why Irises in Vase Matters

The painting belongs to one of Van Gogh’s last major still-life projects and demonstrates his continuing experimentation immediately before his move to Auvers-sur-Oise.

It also connects several major themes in his work: flower painting, expressive brushwork, complementary colour and decorative ensembles.

Collectors exploring other celebrated works of art can compare it with Sunflowers and Van Gogh’s outdoor iris paintings to see how differently he approached flowers across his career.

Historical Artwork Details

The historical original is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Alpha Art Gallery offers reproductions and does not imply affiliation or museum endorsement.

Choose Your Irises in Vase Reproduction

Museum-Quality Canvas Print

Alpha Art Gallery’s canvas prints use 400–450 GSM museum-quality canvas. The painting’s horizontal dimensions work particularly well above sofas, beds, desks and consoles.

Fine Art and Framed Prints

A fine art print provides a refined traditional presentation, while a frame creates a controlled architectural edge around the sweeping organic shapes of the bouquet.

100% Hand-Painted Oil Reproduction

Alpha Art Gallery also offers 100% hand-painted oil reproductions, individually painted by professional artists using oil on canvas. Each has genuine brushwork, painted texture and natural handmade variation.

Where Can I Buy Irises in Vase by Van Gogh?

Alpha Art Gallery offers this 1890 Van Gogh floral still life as canvas, fine art, framed and hand-painted oil reproductions in multiple sizes, with secure packaging and free worldwide shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who painted Irises in Vase?

Vincent van Gogh painted the artwork at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in 1890.

What is its official museum title?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art titles the painting simply Irises.

Where is the original?

The historical original is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York under object number 58.187.

Why do the irises look blue?

Van Gogh originally painted them more violet, but red components in the pigments faded over time, shifting their appearance toward blue.

Was the background originally pink?

Yes. Met research shows that Van Gogh intended a substantially pinker background than the pale appearance visible today.

Is this the same as the Getty Irises?

No. The Getty painting dates from 1889 and shows irises growing outdoors. This 1890 Met painting shows cut irises arranged in a vase.

Can I order a canvas print?

Yes. Alpha Art Gallery offers this artwork on 400–450 GSM museum-quality canvas.

Can I buy a hand-painted reproduction?

Yes. Professional artists individually create 100% hand-painted oil reproductions on canvas.

Is worldwide shipping free?

Yes. Alpha Art Gallery provides free worldwide shipping on all orders.

Bring Van Gogh’s Irises Into Your Interior

The sweeping leaves, graceful flower heads and fascinating history of pigment fading make this one of Van Gogh’s most distinctive late still lifes. Select canvas, fine art, framed or individually hand-painted oil presentation in the size that best fits your wall.