Van Gogh: Souvenir de Mauve

Vincent van Gogh 1853 - 1890 »Souvenir de Mauve«

Vincent van Gogh’s Peach Trees in Blossom (Souvenir de Mauve) is an oil on canvas (28-3/4x23-1/2 inches) that is housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.

Peach Trees in Blossom (Souvenir de Mauve) by Vincent van Gogh

When the weather in Arles, France, turned mild in March, Vincent van Gogh reveled in the changing landscape. He painted Peach Trees in Blossom (Souvenir de Mauve) in 1888. By the end of March all the fruit trees – plum, apricot, pear, apple, and cherry – were either budded or in full bloom. Van Gogh worked rapidly with flickering strokes to capture the beautiful but fleeting effect. While painting pink peach trees he received news of the death of Anton Mauve. The older painter had urged van Gogh to use color freely, and Vincent dedicated this painting to his memory.