Sprig of Flowering Almond Blossom in a Glass by Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh's Sprig of Flowering Almond Blossom in a Glass is an oil on canvas (9-1/2x7-1/2 inches) that is housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Van Gogh hoped that Arles, France, would provide a tranquil and quiet setting for his life and work. Once settled, he painted a sprig of an almond branch, which he forced into early flowering in a glass of water. The irregular pattern of the little branch, covered with pale, translucent blooms, gave him a subject that recalled the depiction of flowers in Japanese prints. The simple division of the silvery, violet background with a scarlet band pays tribute to the Japanese aesthetic.

Vincent van Gogh's friend, postman Joseph Roulin, served as model for the portrait in the next section. Keep reading to learn about The Postman Joseph Roulin.

To learn more about art, famous artists, and art history, check out:

• How Art Works
• Impressionism
• Michelangelo
• Claude Monet