Irises

Catalogue numbers: F 608, JH 1691.

In the beginning of his treatment in the asylum at Saint-Rémy van Gogh did not leave the institute, he found his subjects in its vast garden; he painted the irises and lilac in flower. The frieze-like, decorative, close-up depiction of a detail of the garden with irises shows the stylistic influence of Japanese woodblock prints. During the execution of this work van Gogh most certainly recalled the woodblock print Irises with Dragonfly made by Hokusai in the 1830s.

In 1987, this painting redoubled its fame by fetching a higher price at auction than any work of art before.