Van Gogh, Irises: the search for violet

Getty has joined forces with Smarthistory to bring you an in-depth look at select works within our collection, whether you want to learn more at home or make art more accessible in your classroom. This video series illuminates art history concepts through fun, unscripted conversations between art historians, curators, archaeologists, scientists, and artists, committed to a fresh take on the history of visual arts.
Irises, 1889, Vincent van Gogh. Oil on canvas, 74.3 × 94.3 cm. J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
A conversation with Devi Ormond, Associate Paintings Conservator, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles and Beth Harris, Executive Director, Smarthistory
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[@bev9708]

Absolutely FASCINATING!!!! Thank you so much for continuing to enlighten and marvel us after so many wonderful years of pleasure following your outstanding videos!!!

[@smarthistory-art-history]

What a kind and generous comment, thank you.

[@juliehayne4636]

How pleasant l to wake up to an old friend! I have spent many, many hours at the Getty Museum, and many of those standing in front of that painting, during 15 years that I lived in Los Angeles . Wonderful to to hear about the trip the team took to the Saint-Paul asylum. The plant matter inclusion in the painting is reminiscent of the blown sand that has been found in one of Van Gogh's seascapes at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

[@LouisHansell]

Could you mount beside this work an electronic screen (including having a frame) that showed this piece with the original colors? Perhaps it could even slowly change from the original colors to the colors as we see them today. This would give the museum patrons an idea about how paintings age and have their own life. That would be an experience you couldn't have anywhere else.

[@priscilla9995]

Fascinating! Excited to see the color reconstruction version.

[@darkoaleksovskiiii]

Absolutely wonderful - both the analysis, and the painting!

[@kerryrwalton7791]

Thank you once again for this insightful video! I loved and miss this painting when it was at The Met for so many years courtesy of Joan Payson who owned the NY Mets. I was heartbroken when it left for California because was only a loan after she died. But it is surely in great hands. I hope to see it again one day. I look forward to the publication of your research.

[@christianfrommuslim]

Thank you for bringing to our awareness the issue of paint stability. We are all aware that color photographs fade, increasing the bluish look. Many of us know that watercolors fade. However, we tend to think that oil paints endure for millennia. Through this and other art videos we learn that is not the case.

[@mizofan]

Your videos are excellent, thank you.

[@martijnkeisers5900]

Are you going to Amsterdam again to visit the Van Gogh Museum?

[@smarthistory-art-history]

We love the Van Gogh Museum and hope to visit again before too long.

[@faith7013]

I love the Getty and I love these videos!

[@collegeri]

Wow..award worthy. I’m so sorry more people aren’t aware of this great video.

[@beejls]

Great video, interesting information. I can’t wait to see the reconstruction.

[@BorselinoThadchack]

so love your videos!!!!!!

[@PxCncrd]

Phenomenal video bravo smart history 👏👏👏

[@astridmulkens6635]

Thank you for this video ❤ I LOVE Van Gogh ❤❤❤❤

[@andiemorgan961]

Yet another wonderfully insightful video. Thank you.💖 Will the colour reconstruction be created using AI?

[@sandymandy8599]

So beautiful 🥰

[@黄佳莉-c7p]

Like your video so much!!!

[@Sasha0927]

This was inspiring. 🥰 Good for van Gogh taking the initiative to care for his mental health and well-being while preserving his sense of self / passion for art. I have little doubt he knew exactly what color(s) he was talking about, though I do wonder if he anticipated this aging effect on his piece... It is really poignant to think about how the colors have changed over time (as I'm sure he did over time). I don't often think of how meticulous artists are when choosing their pigments, brushes, locations to paint at, etc, so this was a healthy reminder of just how much thought goes into creating something beautiful - including this video. ❤

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Thanks for the kind end note.

[@Sasha0927]

@@smarthistory-art-history It's always deserved - you guys are great. ❤️❤️

[@Oblivitana]

❤