The Mulberry Tree by Vincent van Gogh - 1889 - 54 x 65 cm Norton Simon Museum The Mulberry Tree by Vincent van Gogh - 1889 - 54 x 65 cm Norton Simon Museum

The Mulberry Tree

oil on canvas • 54 x 65 cm
  • Vincent van Gogh - March 30, 1853 - July 29, 1890 Vincent van Gogh 1889

After suffering a string of psychotic episodes and delusions, van Gogh went to stay at the Saint Paul asylum in Saint-Remy in May 1889 and stayed there for about a year, until May 1890. He continued to paint during his residence there. The Mulberry Tree shows a tree from the garden of the asylum. In early October 1889, van Gogh sent a few paintings and letters to his brother Theo - in these he described his time painting this mulberry tree and seemed to be happy. He wrote: “I’ll tell you that we’re having some superb autumn days, and that I’m taking advantage of them.”