Member-only story
Vincent Van Gogh’s 10 Greatest Works, Ranked
And yes, The Starry Night is number one.
10. Long Grass with Butterflies
Van Gogh painted this scene while staying at a hospital in Saint-Rémy, where his subject matter was probably rather limited. I like it because a patch of grass is a tough subject to focus on, yet Van Gogh handles it well. He brings us close to the ground, leaving out the sky and the view. A path near the top creates just enough distance to keep the picture from becoming flat.
Look how much variety he finds within such a limited scene. The grass grows in clumps, changes direction, and gives the eye dozens of small things to follow. The butterflies (see them?) make the painting feel momentary, as though the arrangement might change before we finish looking.
No grand event or dramatic setting helps this painting along. The painting depends on the quality of the looking. It earns its place in the top ten because it makes something easily overlooked worthy of the viewer’s full attention.
