Wheatfield under Thunderclouds by Vincent van Gogh

Wheatfield under Thunderclouds

Vincent van Gogh · 1890

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“This intense landscape, painted in the final month of Vincent van Gogh's life, captures a wheat field under a thunderous sky with raw, emotional brushwork. It's a powerful vision of nature's drama and the artist's inner world.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

A turbulent sky dominates this canvas, with swirling, heavy clouds that seem to press down on the vast wheat field below. The field itself is a sea of agitated brushstrokes, painted in vibrant yellows and greens, suggesting movement and the imminent arrival of a storm. Created in July 1890, the final month of the artist's life, this landscape captures a profound sense of drama and emotional intensity. The bold colors and expressive brushwork, characteristic of Post-Impressionism, convey not just a scene but a feeling, reflecting the artist's inner turmoil. It's one of a series of wheat field paintings from this period, yet here the atmosphere is particularly charged, a powerful vision of nature's raw force.

DETAILS
Artist
Vincent van Gogh
Date
1890
Medium
Oil on canvas
Location
Van Gogh Museum
ART MOVEMENTS
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Wheatfield under Thunderclouds
01

Look at the dramatic, almost violent brushstrokes in the sky.

02

Notice how the wheat field seems to ripple and move under the wind.

03

Observe the specific shades of yellow and green in the wheat.

04

See the dark, heavy clouds gathering overhead.

AUDIO DEEP DIVE

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THE ARTIST

Vincent van Gogh

1853–1890 · Kingdom of the Netherlands

Vincent van Gogh, whose vibrant brushwork and bold colors transformed landscapes and portraits, created 2,100 artworks in just over a decade.

Read van Gogh’s full story
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More works to explore

Beyond van Gogh and Expressionism: works from the same years, and from the other movements Wheatfield under Thunderclouds belongs to.

Albert (René) Grenier (1858–1925) Same movement · Post-Impressionism Albert (René) Grenier (1858–1925) Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec · 1887 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884 Same era · 1870s–1900s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884 Okada Saburosuke · 1884 · Art Institute of Chicago Carmelina Same movement · Post-Impressionism Carmelina Henri Matisse · 1903 · Museum of Fine Arts Boston Madame Léon Clapisson Same era · 1870s–1900s Madame Léon Clapisson Léon-Victor Dupré · 1883 · Art Institute of Chicago The Old Guitarist Same movement · Post-Impressionism The Old Guitarist Pablo Picasso · 1903 · Art Institute of Chicago Still Life with Crayfish Same era · 1870s–1900s Still Life with Crayfish Mikhail Larionov · 1900 · Museum Ludwig The Seine at Pont de Grenelle Same movement · Post-Impressionism The Seine at Pont de Grenelle Paul Gauguin · 1875 · Wallraf–Richartz Museum Paris Street; Rainy Day Same era · 1870s–1900s Paris Street; Rainy Day Kawabata Gyokushō · 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago
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