Unlocking the true meaning of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers – their symbolism revealed

Why artists continue to be drawn to sunflowers

Some of the most emotionally resonant and visually striking symbols in art are sunflowers. Their strong build, bright hue, and sun-following behavior have intrigued artists, writers, and thinkers for ages. Vincent van Gogh is notably one of those enchanted by them, with his sunflower paintings being some of the most iconic pieces of contemporary art. What is it about this lively flower that keeps sparking the imagination of artists through the years?

For Van Gogh, sunflowers represented more than just botanical themes—they were synonymous with his art. In a letter, he stated, “The sunflower belongs to me,” showing his intention to symbolically own the flower. Whether he saw them as a metaphor or merely as a vivid design, these prominent golden blooms evolved into a visual emblem of his distinctive style and personal emotional world.

Van Gogh’s exploration of the sunflower was not limited to a single canvas. Over the course of three creative phases between 1887 and 1889, he produced eleven sunflower-themed paintings. The most celebrated of these emerged during his time in Arles, where he painted several canvases in rapid succession as he prepared for the arrival of fellow artist Paul Gauguin. The series was as much a technical exercise in color—especially the challenge of capturing varied shades of yellow—as it was a hopeful gesture. Van Gogh envisioned the sunflower paintings as welcoming emblems, filling the walls of the Yellow House with warmth and companionship. But this hope was short-lived; Gauguin departed after a matter of weeks, and Van Gogh’s aspirations for artistic camaraderie went unfulfilled.

Despite the personal disappointments surrounding their creation, the sunflower paintings gradually achieved widespread acclaim. In the early 20th century, they became touchstones for artistic vitality and emotional expressiveness. Critics and writers, including Roger Fry and Katherine Mansfield, saw in them a passionate force that broke with academic traditions and elevated the everyday into something transcendent. Van Gogh’s reputation, initially muted during his lifetime, was firmly established in part due to these bold botanical studies.

Currently, the legacy of the sunflowers painted by Van Gogh continues to influence present-day art. The recent exhibition at the Royal Academy, Kiefer / Van Gogh, illustrates how this theme remains significant for current artists. Anselm Kiefer, renowned for his large-scale and frequently philosophical creations, frequently incorporates the sunflower as a symbol. In his sculpture Danaë, a sunflower emerges from a stack of books—a powerful image that conveys the endurance of life and wisdom even amidst degradation. In other works, like a poignant woodcut portraying a flower growing from a human form, Kiefer reexamines the sunflower to contemplate themes of death, remembrance, and renewal.

Based on curator Julien Domercq’s analysis, the sunflower represented Van Gogh’s vision of the South—bathed in sunlight, energetic, and filled with spiritual significance. However, Van Gogh, who had experience in art dealing and possessed extensive knowledge of art history, was also influenced by a long-standing visual tradition. The sunflower’s significance in European symbolism goes well beyond the confines of Van Gogh’s studio.

Brought to Europe in the 1500s following the exploration of the Americas, sunflowers soon acquired significant symbolism. Their unique habit of orienting towards the sun, a phenomenon known as heliotropism, fascinated early scientists and artists. By the end of the Renaissance period, this natural characteristic had evolved into a symbol, intertwining the natural environment with mythical and religious stories.

The legend of Clytie, a water spirit who changed into a sunflower after being rejected by the sun deity Apollo, offered an early foundation for the flower’s symbolism. Her tale symbolized one-sided love and steadfast dedication, concepts that were depicted in art during the Baroque and Enlightenment eras.

In creations like Maria van Oosterwyck’s Flowers in an Ornamental Vase or Bartholomeus Van der Helst’s Young Woman Holding a Sunflower, the blossom transforms into a representation of love, matrimonial union, or spiritual fidelity. Painters such as Anthony van Dyck incorporated the flower to represent their allegiance to regal clients, merging their personal identity with artistic depiction in works such as Self-Portrait with a Sunflower.

The transformation of symbols continued beyond that point. As time went on, the sunflower transformed into a representation of devotion both spiritually and artistically. In the 17th century, the Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel likened the sunflower’s inclination toward the sun to an artist’s quest for the aesthetics of nature, led by inspiration much like a divine illumination.

In the modern era, the sunflower has continued to act as a vessel for complex cultural messages. One of the most compelling contemporary uses of the flower appears in Ai Weiwei’s Sunflower Seeds—a 2010 installation featuring millions of hand-painted porcelain seeds. Ai’s work drew on his memories of Maoist propaganda imagery in which the Chinese leader was depicted as a sun, with citizens shown as sunflowers turning toward him. Here, the symbolism of the flower transforms into a potent political commentary on conformity, control, and individual expression.

This long lineage of interpretation suggests that the sunflower is more than a simple plant—it’s a mirror for human emotion and belief. The themes it embodies—devotion, transformation, transience, and aspiration—are universal. Whether gazing adoringly at a mythical god or symbolizing the impermanence of life, sunflowers express a deeply rooted human need to seek light, meaning, and connection.

Van Gogh’s own relationship with the flower likely drew on many of these layers. He may not have explicitly articulated their meaning in his letters, but his artistic choices suggest an intuitive understanding of their symbolic power. When he spoke of his sunflower paintings as expressing both anguish and gratitude, he hinted at the flower’s dual nature—its ability to represent pain and hope in equal measure.

Anselm Kiefer has similarly embraced the sunflower as a symbol of our fragile existence. His artworks often depict them in decay, blackened or desiccated, their seeds spilling onto the earth. Yet this is not only a portrayal of loss—it’s also a meditation on renewal. The cycle of death and rebirth, of light and darkness, is ever-present in his interpretations. Kiefer links his vision to thinkers like Robert Fludd, the 17th-century cosmologist who believed in a spiritual connection between plants and stars. By framing his sunflowers against the heavens or anchoring them to human bodies, Kiefer explores this metaphysical bond between the terrestrial and the celestial.

Within this framework, Van Gogh and Kiefer elevate the sunflower to a metaphysical status—going beyond its botanical nature to address profound existential themes. Through their artwork, the flower turns into a visual philosophy, serving as a method to delve into the transience of life and the potential for rebirth.

In the end, the lasting impact of the sunflower in art resides in its capability to represent complexity while maintaining simplicity. Its shape is immediately identifiable, yet its meaning holds profound depth. For Van Gogh, it could have symbolized an offering of companionship or a quest for spiritual insight. For Kiefer, it represents a metaphor for deterioration and renewal. And for observers, it provides an opportunity to contemplate commitment, the passage of time, and the unending attraction to light.

When sunflowers blossom in fields every summer, they reflect the visual dialogue of artistic expression developed over centuries. With their blooms inclined toward the sunlight, they symbolize our pursuit of warmth, beauty, and meaning—qualities that surpass time and continue to manifest in paintings, sculptures, and the realm of human creativity.