Van Gogh mostly varied the subjects of his paintings. While he might re-use e.g. the elements of a starry night in a few paintings, the subjects of these paintings were not the same. He did not often repeat or return to a motive. While he did paint himself on numerous occasions, it was at least with different looks and clothes.
However, one motive he did do over and over again. Maybe that is why this one subject has become more tied to Van Gogh Paintings than any other subject. I am of course talking about his Sunflowers. In late 1888 and early 1889, Van Gogh painted two series of Sunflowers. These have later emerged as some of the artists most celebrated work, indeed as some of the most valuable pieces of art in the world. When Christies sold one in 1987 for USD 40 million, it was thus a record sum for a painting at the time.
And it is easy to see the appeal of the Sunflowers by Van Gogh. The colors are bright and appealing, the flowers rich and alive, the artists own touch so deep as to make the Sunflowers almost reach out of the painting towards you. They are pretty to look at but at the same time hide many details that only lend themselves upon closer examination. They are truly masterpieces of the post-impressionist era.
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