Location and Collection

The painting is part of the collection at the National Gallery Prague, displayed at the Trade Fair Palace in the district of Holešovice, Prague, Czech Republic.

Composition and Description

The painting depicts a field of wheat that is largely green but with parts ripening to yellow. A tall, dark cypress tree dominates the composition, standing next to a small white house. In the background, there are the Alpilles Mountains, and above, a blue sky with white clouds. The scene is characterized by Van Gogh's typical impasto and relief style, although this painting gives a more balanced and peaceful impression compared to some of his other late works.

Creation Context

Van Gogh painted this work while he was a voluntary patient at the asylum of Saint-Paul de Mausole near Saint-Rémy in Provence. He wrote to his sister Wilhelmina about completing the painting on June 16, 1889, just a few days after he was allowed to paint outdoors.

Symbolism and Themes

The wheat fields and cypress trees held significant symbolic meaning for Van Gogh. Wheat fields represented the cycle of life and death, and he found both solace and inspiration in them. Cypress trees, which he depicted frequently, were also symbolic, often representing eternal life and mourning.

Technique and Pigments

The painting features Van Gogh's characteristic bold brushstrokes and organic, vigorously hatched brushwork. The colors used include chrome yellow for the wheatfield, viridian and emerald green for the bushes, and cobalt blue for the sky and mountains. The overall effect is one of vivid actuality and intense feeling.

Other Versions

Van Gogh created multiple versions of wheat fields with cypress trees during his stay at the asylum. While Green Wheat Field with Cypress is specific to the National Gallery Prague, other versions are housed in different collections, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Gallery in London.