Creation and Location

Van Gogh painted this work after leaving the asylum at Saint-Rémy in May 1890. He was deeply inspired by the landscapes and architecture of Auvers-sur-Oise, particularly the "mossy thatched roofs" of the local cottages, which he mentioned in a letter to his sister Wil.

Composition and Style

The painting features a row of dilapidated farm buildings set against a backdrop of hills and fields. The composition is characterized by dynamic brushwork, with slashes, commas, and hooks of paint that give the outlines a vibrant and energetic quality. The painting appears to be unfinished, with a hasty and expressive style that was typical of Van Gogh's later works.

Technical Details

- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 50.2 cm × 100.3 cm (19.7 in × 39.5 in)
- Catalogue: F793; JH2114
- Location: The painting is currently part of the collection at The National Gallery in London, although it was originally bequeathed to the Tate Collection in 1933.

Significance

Farms near Auvers is one of Van Gogh's last landscapes, painted just a month before his death. It exemplifies his use of double-square canvases, a format he employed frequently in his final period. The painting reflects his enduring interest in landscapes, influenced in part by Japanese prints, as evidenced by the high point of view he used to depict the cottages nestled into the hills.