Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how both Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh selected the subject of sunflowers for two of their most famous still life paintings. It looks at how, although both artist's works may depict the same type of flower, the color, light and shading of the two works are completely different.

From the Paper:

"The arrangement of the Van Gogh painting also forces the viewer to look more closely at the individual flowers. Most of the faces of the Van Gogh sunflowers, rather than turn away from the viewer, seem to look at the viewer directly, while others are dying, as if expressing their sadness as they look away. Because of their brightness, and the detail given to each individual flower, the centers of the healthy flowers seem to look like eyes, looking into the viewer's soul, rather than away at something else as in the case of Monet's painting. Even the colors of the central vase are brighter in Van Gogh's painting than in Monet's and jump out at the viewer in the center of the composition. The vase is painted with bright colors, while in the Monet painting the viewer hardly notices the off-center vase."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Monet, Claude. "Sunflowers." 1881.
• Van Gogh, Vincent. "Sunflowers." 1887-1889.

More papers on Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers":

• Comparison Essay # 90980 : "Manet and Vincent Van Gogh"
• Essay # 87030 : "Vincent Van Gogh"
• Essay # 67417 : "Vincent Van Gogh"

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