Van Gogh
Espresso Cups

Vincent van Gogh espresso cups

This set of two porcelain espresso cups come in four versions with very different looks. They are decorated with fragments from four different masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh: Almond Blossom, Irises, Sunflowers, and Poppies and Butterflies - see below. These espresso cups are specifically designed for the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Almond Blossom

Van Gogh painted this sparkling still life of delicate almond blossom against a bright blue sky for his newborn nephew Vincent Willem. The subject, as well as the sharp contours and placement of the tree, was inspired by Japanese prints.

Sunflowers

During 1888 and 1889, Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles, Southern France. There, he made a series of 5 works with sunflowers. The paintings where used by Paul Gauguin, a good friend of Van Gogh, to decorate his bedroom. Today, they can be found in five museums in as many countries. The Vincent van Gogh espresso cups are based on the vase with fifteen sunflowers exhibited in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Iris

Van Gogh painted this still life in the asylum of Saint-Rémy. 'Irises' was for him primarily a color study. Twice he painted this lush bouquet. Here, he was looking for strong color contrasts, whereas in the other still life he sought a soft effect of pastel colors. By depicting the flowers against a full yellow background, they came out extra bright. Originally, the irises were purple. Through the fading of a red pigment, the flowers have by now become blue

Butterflies and Poppies

Van Gogh painted this still life in April-May 1890, during his stay in the psychiatric hospital in Saint-Remy-en-Provence. His collection of Japanese prints was a source of inspiration leading to this close up of butterflies and flowers.