Irises

J.Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California.
Oil on canvas
Size 71 × 93. cm.

“Irises” is one of a series of canvas the artist created in France. Van Gogh started painting Irises within a week of entering the asylum, working in the hospital garden. He called painting “the lightning conductor for my illness” because he felt that he could keep himself from going insane by continuing to paint. Some art experts assert that the painting was influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints. The similarities occur with strong outlines, unusual angles, including close-up views, and also flattish local color.