Pink peach trees

Vincent van Gogh painted these blossoming peach trees in the spring of 1888, shortly after moving to Arles in the south of France. Tired of the gray Parisian skies, he headed south chasing stronger sunlight and richer color, and the flowering orchards were exactly the kind of subject that lifted his spirits. If you look near the bottom of the canvas, you will spot the words "Souvenir de Mauve." This was a dedication to his cousin and early mentor Anton Mauve, who had recently died. Van Gogh painted it as a personal farewell to the man who helped teach him how to paint.

The scene shows a small orchard fenced with rough wooden slats, its trees dusted with delicate pink blossoms under a soft, clouded sky. Van Gogh worked fast here, laying down thick dabs and short, restless strokes that give everything a buzzing, living quality. That urgency was real, since he was racing the season itself, trying to capture the peach trees before their petals dropped. He made several versions of these blooming trees that spring, each one carrying a mix of grief for his lost teacher and genuine joy at the arrival of warmer days.