Still Life with Two Sunflowers - Vincent van Gogh

A study of two cut sunflowers rendered with heavy, directional brushwork and an earthy palette, painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1886.

Painted in Paris in 1886, this work captures two cut sunflowers resting upon a surface. Unlike the later, more famous vase arrangements created in Arles, this composition focuses on the physical texture and the decaying state of the blooms. Van Gogh employs a heavy impasto technique, applying paint in short, directional strokes that follow the circular form of the flower heads. The background and foreground merge into a unified field of colour, composed of rhythmic, dashed marks in shades of ochre, burnt orange, and muted green.

The artist uses a palette dominated by earth tones, which differs from the high-chroma yellow series he would produce later. The sunflowers appear weathered, with their petals drooping and their seeds rendered in dark, dense clusters. This study demonstrates his interest in the tactile quality of paint and the expressive potential of simple subjects. The composition is cropped tightly, forcing the viewer to engage with the raw materiality of the flowers rather than a traditional domestic setting. By focusing on the cycle of growth and decay, Van Gogh elevates a humble subject into a study of form and light. The brushwork creates a sense of movement across the canvas, suggesting the energy of the artist at work. This piece remains a clear example of his transition from the darker tones of his early Dutch period toward the more experimental colour theories he adopted after moving to France. It provides a view into his technical development, showing how he used paint to define volume and texture through repetitive, deliberate application. The work is held in the collection of the Kunstmuseum Basel.