Almond blossoms

Painted in 1890, this burst of white blossoms against a bright blue sky was a gift of love. Vincent van Gogh made it to celebrate the birth of his nephew, who was named Vincent after him. His brother Theo and sister-in-law had just welcomed the baby, and Van Gogh wanted to create something special to hang in their home. He chose almond blossoms because in early spring they are among the first trees to bloom, a natural symbol of new life and fresh beginnings.

You can see how much Van Gogh admired Japanese prints in the way he painted this. The flat blue background, the bold dark outlines of the branches, and the simple cropped composition all come from that influence. Rather than showing the whole tree, he zooms right in on the branches as if you are lying beneath them looking up. The brushwork is calm and careful here, which is striking when you remember he was struggling with his health at the time. This painting stayed close to the family and remained a favorite, a quiet reminder of hope during a difficult chapter in the artist's life.