Vincent van Gogh’s sunflower paintings rank among his most iconic works. Created in Arles, France during a prolific period between 1888 and 1889, they exist as two distinct series. The earlier series depicts sunflowers severed from their stems, splayed across the ground. In contrast, the later series vibrantly portrays sunflowers arranged in vases. Van Gogh’s masterful use of yellow hues, from pale lemon to rich gold, infuses the paintings with a sense of warmth and vitality, even as some sunflowers droop towards the end of their bloom cycle. Beyond their aesthetic beauty, these works held deep significance for van Gogh. He associated sunflowers with gratitude and friendship, intending them to adorn the bedroom of his fellow artist Paul Gauguin during Gauguin’s stay at Arles. Notably, van Gogh even conceived a triptych incorporating a sunflower painting alongside a portrait. Today, five renowned sunflower paintings in a vase grace the collections of prestigious museums internationally, including the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.