Fine Art

Almond tree in blossom — History & Facts

A slender tree stands at the center, its trunk wrapped in bands of blue and yellow-green, rising from a textured patch of earth. The branches extend outward in all directions, each tipped with clusters of delicate, pale blossoms tinged with soft pink and cream. Some flowers are fully open, while others remain as tight buds along the reddish-brown limbs.

Behind the tree, a field of green stretches across the middle of the composition, rendered with short, vertical strokes of yellow, green, and ochre that suggest new grass or low plants. The background is divided horizontally, with a band of turquoise and teal above the grassy field, marked by a regular rhythm of vertical brushstrokes. At the very top, a dense pattern of dark blue, green, and brown forms a barrier of trees or shrubbery, with touches of orange and ochre hinting at distant foliage or buildings.

Light falls evenly across the scene, illuminating the blossoms and casting no strong shadows, so that every detail of the tree and ground is clearly visible. The paint is applied thickly in places, particularly in the foreground, where the earth is built up with swirling, textured strokes of ochre, blue, and gray. The composition is tightly focused on the single tree, whose vertical trunk and radiating branches anchor the scene and divide the space.

Small details, such as the subtle variations in blossom color and the careful outlining of each branch, contribute to a sense of freshness and immediacy. Vincent van Gogh created this landscape in 1888, depicting a flowering Prunus dulcis, or almond tree, during his time in Arles.

Sources: Van Gogh Museum, record s0035V1962 · Wikidata Q19836190

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