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Formal Analysis

Megan Agosto

Art Appreciation 1

07/03/2020
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Formal Analysis: Wheatfield with Crows

Wheatfield with Crows was completed by Vincent Van Gogh in July 1980 in Auvers,

France. Currently, it is on display at the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. I, however, viewed it

on the Google Arts & Culture website.1 Many believe this to be Van Gogh’s last work, perhaps

even serving as a suicide note, before he fatally shot himself in the chest. This, however, is

almost entirely unsupported. It is likely one of his later works was the last thing he completed.2

Regardless, the painting suggests great solitude and inner turmoil. The knowledge that he died so

soon after completing it certainly builds on that impression. However, this is truly an exceptional

work of art and it is not necessary to pin down the exact meaning to appreciate it.

It is a landscape painting, made with oil paint on canvas in the post-impressionist style.

The artwork is large; it was done on a double-square canvas measuring approximately 50.5 x 103

centimeters. The piece features a large, yellow wheat field that dominates two thirds of the

canvas. Above the field there is dark, turbulent sky. There are two round, yellow figures in the

sky that almost resemble moons. A large flock of crows flies up above.

The painting is symmetrical and balanced. The three paths separate the image into thirds;

two yellow sections of wheat and the sky overhead. The field below has three diverging paths,

with green grass on the sides. The foreground contains two of the paths, on both the left and right

side. The path in the center extends towards the horizon.

The painting is cut off on the sides; the foreground paths seem to be leading nowhere. It

is unclear if the center path leads to the end of the field or simply cuts off somewhere in the

middle. This builds on the ominous tone of the piece and the viewer is left feeling like there is no

way out. Because the painting is so wide, there is an element of loneliness or isolation. The
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central path being seemingly cut off heightens this sense of isolation. This is perhaps how Van

Gogh felt near the end of his life.

There are several ways to interpret the three paths. They could represent different

directions the viewer (and therefore the painter) might take. In that case, the destination is

unknown and there is an element of danger or disquiet. Additionally, they could represent the

past, present and future. Again, the knowledge that his life ended shortly after completing this

makes it all the more ominous.

One of the most striking elements of the piece is the murder of crows in the sky. The

direction they are flying in is unknown, which adds to the sense of mystery in the painting. They

look like they are coming from nowhere and where they are heading is just as unclear. If the

crows are flying towards the viewer, they appear threatening. In some cultures, crows are seen as

harbingers of death. With this in mind the feeling of fear is amplified.

On the other hand, the painting looks much more positive if the viewer sees them flying

away towards the horizon. It almost feels hopeful, as if the darkness could soon be lifting. The

crows are portrayed in simplified forms. Instead of focusing on three-dimensionality, Van Gogh

made quick strokes with black paint to represent them. The rapid marks mimic the movement of

the crows as they advance.

The thickly applied paint and visible brush strokes makes it clear that this was done in the

post-impressionist style. This movement is characterized by artists opting to capture emotion

instead of portraying realism in their paintings.3 This was achieved by using simple, geometric

forms to create an image. Van Gogh’s goal was to communicate a feeling rather than give an

accurate depiction of a field.

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Here, the choppy strokes imply movement as well as add texture and depth. The sky

looks unsettled, like a swirling storm. There is a fuzzy, dreamlike quality to the piece. The

viewer’s eyes are lead in varying directions, making the scene claustrophobic. The brushstrokes

move in a circular pattern across the sky, which creates a turbulent, unsettled effect.

Another example of post-impressionistic style is the use of color. Instead of the natural

tones and lighting that characterized impressionist work3, Van Gogh uses bold and contrasting

colors. In fact, there no discernible source of light in this painting. The brightest feature is the

yellow paint that comprises the field. Color was used for dramatic effect as opposed to

portraying something in nature. This is apparent by the crows, which gradually blend into the

sky. As they recede it is hard to differentiate them from the black strokes in the sky.

The colors also provide distinct boundaries between elements. The viewer can clearly

differentiate the dark blues of the sky from the bright yellows and greens of the field. Different

elements of the paths are identifiable through color changes, as well. There are red and brown

tones for the earth and green for the grass. The black crows stand out against the background.

Despite the scale of the piece, the bright colors work with each other to make the viewer feel

cramped and trapped.

Lines in this piece are implied through the use of color and brushstrokes. The paths in the

field are a curving line and the discernible strokes follow the curve. The blue of the sky creates a

horizon line above the yellow field. The wheat stalks are composed of short, upward strokes.

They go in varying directions across the field, which gives an illusion of wind. It is easy to

imagine them moving and shifting in the breeze. This makes the canvas feel alive, as if

something is about to happen. In comparison, the lines that create the paths are uniformed, which

gives each one path a worn down, beaten effect.

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The more I look at this painting, the more questions I have about Van Gogh’s state of

mind when he completed it. Regardless of his actual intention, this is a lonely scene. The rapid

brushstrokes have a life of their own; it is as if the landscape itself is crying out. Whether the

viewer interprets it as hopeful or foreboding, the suffering of the painter is still apparent. Here,

he uses his skill as an artist to convey a message. It is up to the viewer to decide what that

message is. Van Gogh was a master at conjuring up emotional responses through his work, and

Wheatfield with Crows is no exception.

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Works Cited

1. “Wheatfield with Crows - Vincent Van Gogh - Google Arts & Culture.” Google. Google.

Accessed July 4, 2020. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/wheatfield-with-crows-

vincent-van-gogh/dwFdD5AMQfpSew.

2. Sidelnikov, Eugene. “Wheat Field with Crows by Vincent Van Gogh: History, Analysis &

Facts.” Arthive. Accessed June 28, 2020.

https://arthive.com/vincentvangogh/works/5044~Wheat_field_with_crows.

3. Richman-Abdou , Kelly. “Exploring the Vision and Diverse Styles of Post-Impressionism

Pioneers.” My Modern Met, August 27, 2017. https://mymodernmet.com/post-

impressionism/.