Sunrises as Symbols of Hope in Art History
A DailyArt Magazine article explores how sunrises have been depicted as symbols of hope across art history. Vincent van Gogh painted 'Field of Spring Wheat at Sunrise' (1889, Kröller-Müller Museum) while at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, describing the view through his iron-barred window. Albert Bierstadt, known for romanticized American landscapes, created 'Sunrise over Forest and Grove' (late 19th century, private collection) after studying in Düsseldorf and traveling westward. J.M.W. Turner made 'Venice, Looking East from the Guidecca, Sunrise' (1819, British Museum) during his first Venice visit, later capturing sunrises in the 1840s, purchasing waterside houses to observe the 'yellow morning.' Claude Monet's 'Impression, Sunrise' (1872, Musée Marmottan Monet) sparked the term 'Impressionism' after critic Louis Leroy's derisive review of the 1874 exhibition. Camille Pissarro's 'Sunrise on the Sea' (1840, private collection) is also featured.
Key facts
- Vincent van Gogh painted 'Field of Spring Wheat at Sunrise' in 1889, now at Kröller-Müller Museum.
- Van Gogh was at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence when he painted the sunrise series.
- Albert Bierstadt's 'Sunrise over Forest and Grove' is from the late 19th century in a private collection.
- Bierstadt studied in Düsseldorf and joined an overland survey expedition across the U.S.
- J.M.W. Turner's 'Venice, Looking East from the Guidecca, Sunrise' (1819) is at the British Museum.
- Turner painted sunrises in the 1840s and bought houses on water to study light effects.
- Claude Monet's 'Impression, Sunrise' (1872) at Musée Marmottan Monet led to the term 'Impressionism.'
- Critic Louis Leroy derisively used 'Impressionist' in Le Charivari after the 1874 exhibition.
- Camille Pissarro's 'Sunrise on the Sea' (1840) is in a private collection.
Entities
Artists
- Vincent van Gogh
- Albert Bierstadt
- J.M.W. Turner
- Claude Monet
- Camille Pissarro
- Louis Leroy
- Cliff Edwards
- Theo van Gogh
Institutions
- Kröller-Müller Museum
- British Museum
- Tate
- Musée Marmottan Monet
- Le Charivari
- DailyArt Magazine
- Loyola Press
Locations
- Otterlo
- Netherlands
- Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
- France
- New Bedford
- Massachusetts
- United States
- Düsseldorf
- Germany
- Venice
- Italy
- London
- UK
- Paris
- Le Havre