Van Gogh- Almond Blossoms

Van Gogh is an artist well known for his vision of the night sky. His struggles with mental health are also widely discussed, as are the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death at the age of 37. The painting I chose, "Almond Blossoms," is an entrancing blend of realism juxtaposed against an almost cartoonish style background. The blossoms seem as though they are plucked from nature, while the larger branches have exaggerated details only apparent upon a close inspection. While the background can be interpreted as a portrayal of the sky, to me it seemed almost like viewing the sky from the bottom of the ocean. Viewing the brilliant blue from that perspective turns the almond blossoms into a strange, foreign plant life that exists under the ocean.