Beneath a starry night: Celebrating Van Gogh's 162nd birthday

[Photo/Xinhua]

A Bottle of White Roses

Van Gogh was addicted to color in most of his works. However, A bottle of white roses was an exception. He created it after he was discharged from the Saint-Rémy hospital. During his recovery, he reflected on his past life and set his mind to spend the rest of his life on painting. He could have chosen brilliant sunflowers, charming irises or dazzling red roses, but he, in the end, selected white roses as the subject of the masterpiece.

From his perspective, simple and unadorned as the white roses are, they fully bloom with indomitable spirits. They are showing an alternative beauty, a symbol for his entire life. For Van Gogh, A Bottle of White Roses was a rare work of purity and elegance.