Spring in art is represented by numerous beautiful paintings. Since the Middle Ages and especially in the Renaissance, artists included awakening nature, blossoming trees and flowers in their artworks. Many paintings were inspired by Spring throughout history, but representing nature during that season became especially popular among Impressionist painters. To celebrate that remarkable season, here is the Culture Tourist’s selection of the most beautiful paintings representing Spring in art.
Spring in Art
Arcimboldo: Spring (The Four Seasons)
Where is it: Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid (Spain)
The Four Seasons is a series of four paintings made by Italian artist Arcimboldo in the second half of the 16th century. He represented different seasons by men built of various plants, fruits, vegetables or even animals characteristic for that time of the year. In his creative approach, he made Spring’s coat of foliage, while his face and hair are created of colourful flowers.
Sandro Botticelli: Primavera
Where is it: Uffizi Gallery, Florence (Italy)
This painting is the Renaissance art celebration of Spring. The painting is filled with references to classical and Renaissance literature and poetry. Gathered in the orange garden, nine figures are surrounded by various Spring plants and flowers. The painting was named “Spring“ by Giorgio Vasari some 70 years after it was created.
⤷ Read more: 10 Cultural spots to visit in Florence
Adriaen Coorte: Still Life with Asparagus
Where is it: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
The small still life painting displayed among the Rijksmuseum highlights is one of my favourite representations of Spring in art. Although it may not be your typical Spring painting, with its theme, the asparagus, it represents that vegetable so characteristic of Spring. Especially in the Netherlands, where the painting was created.
⤷ Read more: 10 Things you didn’t know about the Rijksmuseum
Claude Monet: Springtime
Where is it: Walters Art Museum, Baltimore (US)
The French Impressionist painter Claude Monet painted his Springtime, also known as The Reader, in 1872. He depicted a lady sitting on grass surrounded by flowers, reading a book. Its pastel tones, soft sunshine coming through, and white flowers depict Spring in art perfectly.
⤷ Read more: Virtual museum visits – Monet & The Water Lilies
Vincent van Gogh: Almond Blossom
Where is it: Van Gogh Museums, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
One of the most beautiful Van Gogh’s paintings captures the mood of Spring in art in a fantastic way. He painted a blossoming almond, one of the first trees blossoming in early Spring. After learning his nephew, a son of his brother Theo, was born, Van Gogh started working on this painting. So, he made this painting for him, including the symbolism of new life. He wrote in one of his letters:
“… I started right away to make a picture for him, to hang in their bedroom, big branches of white almond blossom against a blue sky.“
Although the flowers are white now, they were initially pink, making a lovely combination of light blue and pink.
⤷ Read more: Places linked to Van Gogh in the Netherlands, Belgium & France
Utagawa Kunisada: Three women viewing cherry blossoms on a riverbank
Where is it: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington (New Zealand)
Cherry blossoms are a symbol of Spring around the world, but it’s especially true in Japan. Made around 1850 in Tokyo, this woodcut is a beautiful representation of Spring in Japanese art. Made as a triptych, the branched cherry tree connects them all together.
Camille Pissarro: Boulevard Montmartre Spring
Where is it: Private collection
Camille Pissarro was a master in capturing a moment. He painted 14 paintings between February and April 1897 while looking through his hotel room window at Boulevard Montmartre. This one, representing Spring in Paris, is one of them. The light blue colour of the sky and the early foliage on trees next to the road make this artwork one of the most beautiful Spring paintings in art history.
⤷ Read more: Impressionists in Paris
Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Spring Bouquet
Where is it: Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge (US)
Made in 1866, Renoir created a perfect Spring floral composition with this painting. Its soft light and pale colours of early Spring flowers remind us of an early April morning. Renoir makes these flowers so real we can almost smell them. The painter is also focused on details, painting this artwork with a brush instead of a more common palette knife at that time.
Vincent van Gogh: Blossoming Trees series from Arles
Where is it: Various museums
After Van Gogh moved to Arles in the Spring of 1888, he became obsessed with trees blossoming around that French town. Van Gogh painted numerous compositions of them, creating a wonderful collection of paintings showing early Spring in art. He often used thick paint to create blossoms, which often looked like he sculpted rather than painted those beautiful compositions. You can see them in museums around the world. However, one of the most exquisite collections of Van Gogh‘s blossoming trees is at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
⤷ Read more: Van Gogh Museum Highlights & Tips for visiting
Alphonse Mucha: Spring (The Seasons)
Where is it: Art Institute of Chicago (US), V&A Museum, London (UK)
Alphonse Mucha is one of the most famous Art Nouveau artists. He created three series of “Seasons” using the lithography technique. They were produced in 1896, 1897 and 1900. They are typical examples of his work with central female figures and compositions inspired by Japanese art.
⤷ Read more: The best museums in London
John William Waterhouse: A Song of Springtime
Where is it: Private collection
“A Song of Springtime“ by John William Waterhouse is a romantic celebration of female beauty and youth, symbolised by Spring. The nature is beautifully awakening in this painting. Trees are blossoming, while the meadow is filled with hyacinths and daffodils.
Gustav Klimt: Italian Garden
Where is it: Belvedere, Vienna (Austria)
This decorative painting created by Gustav Klimt is filled with various colourful flowers. Its unusual composition focuses on the floral part of the garden with a stone house in the background. With its playful garden, Klimt creates an ode to the season and one of the most beautiful Spring paintings in art history.
Claude Monet: Spring in Giverny
Where is it: Clark Art Institute, Williamstown (US)
Claude Monet’s “Spring in Giverny“ depicts an early Spring in the French countryside. He painted that week in early April when nature starts to wake up, and although it looks as if there is no foliage yet on trees, everything is coloured in light green. Monet painted many paintings showing Spring in art, but this one is the most intimate.
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With so many fantastic artworks representing Spring in art, it’s the season that was very popular among the painters. Both its motives and symbols were a great source of inspiration for artists.
Do you have any favourite paintings inspired by Spring? Let me know in the comments!
Read more about art on Culture Tourist:
Winter in art: 20 Most beautiful Winter themed paintings
Christmas in Art: 10 Most beautiful Christmas themed artworks
Spooky & Scary Art: The scariest paintings in art history
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