Van Gogh: Sunflowers (One Painting, One Story)

Vincent van Gogh claimed the sunflower as his own. No other artist has been so closely associated with a specific flower, or imbued it with so much meaning. These paintings have become his best-loved works, celebrated the world over. Here Martin Gayford tells the story behind the National Gallery’s Sunflowers, painted by Van Gogh in the summer of 1888, shortly before his friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin came to stay with him in the south of France. Following in their footsteps, the book considers Van Gogh’s thinking and inspirations during this intense period of creativity, celebrating the lasting power of this iconic painting.

Author

Martin Gayford is a celebrated author and journalist. His publications have ranged from biographical studies of artists including Michelangelo and Constable to volumes on Freud and Hockney. His book The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles was published in 2006 to critical acclaim.