This painting was created by Vincent during his stay in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. It is painted on an elongated canvas, in a double-square format, which was characteristic of his works during the final years of his life. The artist used oil, expressive and broad brushstrokes, and a strong play of contrasts.
The composition appears divided into two parts: a cold blue-white top and a warm yellow-green bottom. This conveys somewhat conflicting emotions, depending on where the viewer’s gaze settles. In a letter to his brother and sister-in-law, Van Gogh mentioned that he depicted the boundlessness of the field under a threatening sky as symbols of sorrow and profound loneliness.
A sad but true fact: Vincent created this painting in the final months of his life, and in the same letter he wrote, “I hope it conveys my state of mind, something I cannot express in words.”