Vincent van Gogh's Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers was executed in oil paints, the medium he primarily used to create dynamic and tactile paintings. The canvas is linen, a typical material for artists in the 19th century, as it was both durable and had a smooth surface. The paint was then thickly applied by Van Gogh in impasto with wide expressive brushstrokes through which the roughness of thick textures of the sunflower areas and background can easily be seen. The brushstroke shows dynamic movement within his compositions, with heavy petal and stem formations.
The bright sunflower petals in the piece would have involved cadmium yellow and chrome yellow, while chromic green or viridian would probably have provided the darker tones of green in the stems and leaves. In flowers, Van Gogh used to create rich golden hues by mixing yellows with ochre pigments. The background of the painting is a warm, slightly textured yellow color that contrasts with the sunflowers and really complements the vibrancy of the colors. He used some darker browns and oranges for accenting the shadowing of the petals and the stems. The complementary color pairs used by Van Gogh-yellow against blue and green-will help in creating visual vibrancy. It's in the thick, tactile application of oil paint on the canvas that flowers come alive-capturing all the delicacy and intensity of their beauty.
Vincent van Gogh was inspired to create Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers as part of his exploration of still life compositions, aiming to capture the beauty and vibrancy of nature. He had a deep admiration for sunflowers, seeing them as symbols of warmth, vitality, and life. The painting was also a part of a larger series, intended to decorate the room of his friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin, who was staying with him in Arles. Van Gogh was drawn to the sunflowers for their rich, bold colors, which allowed him to experiment with his signature thick brushwork and expressive technique. The flowers' life cycle—both their vibrant bloom and their eventual wilting—may have also symbolized themes of transience and the passage of time for the artist.