Painted during Van Gogh’s stay at the Saint-Paul asylum in Southern France, The Mulberry Tree (54 x 65 cm) is a testament to resilience. Amidst personal turmoil, Van Gogh found solace in the asylum’s garden, transforming a gnarled tree into a symphony of color and motion.
This painting pulses with thick, swirling brushstrokes—fiery oranges and yellows clashing against a deep cerulean sky, as if the tree itself were dancing in defiance of the encroaching autumn chill
Technique & Symbolism: A Battle of Light and Shadow:
Van Gogh’s signature impasto technique elevates the painting into a tactile masterpiece. Each stroke is sculpted like relief work, with twisted branches clawing toward the heavens—a visual metaphor for the artist’s struggle and hope.
The tree’s molten foliage, rendered in cadmium and chrome yellows, seems to explode against the cool backdrop, echoing the emotional tension of his iconic Starry Night.
For Van Gogh, this wasn’t just a tree; it was "resilience rooted in rocky soil," a declaration that beauty persists even in fractured worlds.
Why Own This Piece?
