Vincent van Gogh, 1853 - 1890, Dutch
Le Crau, Peach Trees in Blossom, 1889
Courtauld Gallery, London
SuperStock

Van Gogh painted fifteen studies of orchards in bloom during the spring of 1888.  Said he, "I'm up to my ears in work, for the trees are in blossom and I want to paint a Provencal orchard of astounding gaiety."  Van Gogh used a spontaneous technique of irregular touches of the brush, thus creating the delicate fresh lacy look of the blossoming orchard.