Irises

What you see

Irises fill the canvas from side to side, seen up close, as if we were crouching in the garden. The blue-violet flowers cluster at the top and toward the right, among long, sword-shaped leaves. Reddish soil shows at the lower left, and behind lies a meadow dotted with orange flowers. The plants are cropped at the edges, so the garden seems to carry on beyond the frame.

Dark outlines give the picture the look of a colored drawing. The petals range from deep violet to pale blue, with yellow touches, set against sea-green leaves and red earth. The paint is creamy, laid down in long strokes. Notice the lone white iris on the left and the signature “Vincent” in the lower right corner.