Vincent Van Gogh
Long Grass with Butterflies, 1890
National Gallery, London
“Long Grass with Butterflies” was painted by Vincent Van Gogh on the grounds of the asylum at Saint-Rémy near Arles, during the end of his stay. In his letters, he described the garden, in which “the grass grows tall and unkempt, mixed with all kinds of weeds.” The vibrant colours that he characteristically uses are underscored by black strokes over the top of the patches of bright green.
The perspective of the garden is one that is looking downwards, depressed. The unusual point of view is framed by a path and a line of trees that are abruptly cut off, leading to an uncertain destination.