Cypresses - Vincent van Gogh

Art Institute of Chicago, public domain

"Cypresses" by Vincent van Gogh (1889) Pen and reed pen and brown inks and graphite on cream wove paper.

Commentary

"Cypresses" by Vincent van Gogh (1889) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. Themes to notice include pen and ink drawings. This piece is held in Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection. Vincent van Gogh is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Vincent van Gogh Dutch, 1853-1890. The work is cataloged within a Netherlands cultural context. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as pen and ink drawings, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Pen and reed pen and brown inks and graphite on cream wove paper) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (62.5 × 46.4 cm (24 5/8 × 18 5/16 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include pen and ink drawings. Compare this reading with the museum record at Art Institute of Chicago: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/87327

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data