Old Apple Tree Blossoming

Charley Toorop learned the painting profession from her father, Jan Toorop. Initially she worked in a Cubist and Expressionist style. In the early 1930s, she discovered her own style, creating an idiosyncratic oeuvre—a powerful realism with sharply defined shapes and expressive colors.

From 1947 on, she painted a blossoming fruit tree every spring and a tree with apples or pears every autumn. In this way she sought to document the cycle of the seasons and of life. Old Apple Tree Blossoming dates from 1949. At that time Charley had suffered a second stroke; she was partly paralyzed and hae difficulty talking. With tremendous perseverance she tried to keep working as much as possible.

She made a large series of still lifes with trees, but also with plates, jugs, bottles, and clogs. Many of these still lifes have an angular, austere appearance, but Old Apple Tree Blossoming is remarkably poetic and expressionistic. She has obviously taken inspiration from the blossoming trees by Vincent van Gogh, whom she admired greatly. 

If you admire van Gogh as much as Toorop, please check our Van Gogh Notebook here.  : )

We present today's work thanks to our favorite Kröller-Müller Museum.  <3

P.S. Here you will find the 10 most beautiful artistic flower arrangements from art.