Why are Van Gogh’s irises not purple?

The red paint Vincent van Gogh used was often not stable. When the red color disappeared out of purple irises over time blue came up. The same happened with the purple walls of Van Gogh’s bedroom in Arles.

Also the yellow colors changed towards a darker brownish yellow.

Today 134 years ago, on 22 May 1888,

Vincent van Gogh wrote to Emile Bernard from Arles:

"They cut the grass while I was painting, so it’s only a study and not a finished painting, which I intended to make of it. But what a subject — eh — that sea of yellow flowers with a line of purple irises, and in the background the neat little town of pretty women.”

View of Arles with irises in the foreground
Arles, 1888
Oil on canvas
54 x 65 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

You may also like to read:

• Why did the red paint in Van Gogh’s works fade?
• FREE Van Gogh e-book

Van Gogh's 'View of Arles with irises in the foreground'

Your daily dose of Van Gogh.

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