“Paint Like” Van Gogh: Almond Blossoms

Large blossom branches like those in Almond Blossoms (1890), painted against a blue sky were one of Vincent Van Gogh's favorite subjects. Almond trees flower early in the spring making them a symbol of new life. Van Gogh created this work as a gift to celebrate his brother, Theo's, newborn son. He borrowed the subject, the bold outlines and the positioning of the tree in the picture plane from Japanese printmaking.