Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh painted Olive Grove in the southern French town of Saint-Rémy after being admitted to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole hospital. When his health permitted, he painted in the surrounding area. This work is part of a series of 15 paintings of olive groves, in which he aimed to express the comforting feelings of eternity and connection that he experienced in nature. For Van Gogh, trees contained "expression and a soul, as it were." Furthermore, Van Gogh, the son of a pastor, identified olive trees with Gethsemane. In this garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives, Jesus was overwhelmed by grief and fear the day before his crucifixion, but he also accepted his fate there. According to Van Gogh, the olive tree, which can thrive in high temperatures, drought, and wind, symbolized the endurance of adversity in life.
This beautiful painting is a part of the Searching for Meaning exhibition in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, which is on view until 11 May 2025. Helene Kröller-Müller was one of the first European women to put together a major art collection and is credited with being one of the first collectors to recognize the genius of Vincent van Gogh. Don't miss it!
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P.P.P.S. Read more about Vincent van Gogh's relationship with nature, which defined his art. For more stories on the Dutch master, see the articles below.