Spring has sprung and Easter is almost upon us – eggs at the ready!
Springtime has inspired artists, musicians, and writers for time immemorial, and with good reason. The season reintroduces us to warm daylight that lasts longer than nighttime darkness, blooming flowers, and bearable jacket-less temperatures. Bring. It. On.
We’ve gathered together a selection of works that capture the blue skies, vibrant flora and fauna, and cool sunlight of the season. We’ll be looking back at this list when the rain inevitably starts pouring ay day now…
Lawrence Alma-Tadema – Spring, 1894
Showing an ancient parade celebrating the return of Spring, we wish we could jump into this work by Alma-Tadema. Now, where did we put our flower garland and flute?
Vincent Van Gogh – Green Wheat Field with Cyprus, 1889
Part of the Dutch master’s series of works showing wheat fields, it’s easy to imagine walking through this scene and feeling the cool spring breeze on your skin. “…and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”
Sandro Botticelli – Primavera, c.1475
What better way to see in the Spring than in the woods with a gang of figures from classical mythology? While there’s no clear narrative in this work, it does look like one hell of a party.
Pierre Auguste Cot – Springtime, 1873
Honestly, we’re just excited to go outside without our winter coats on, let alone sitting semi-naked on a swing with our lover. We mean, if the option’s there…
Édouard Manet – Spring, 1881
This portrait of the actress Jeanne DeMarsy was designed to embody the springtime. Manet was going to create one portrait for each season, but died shortly after creating the second one – Autumn. Did you know this was the first ever artwork printed in colour?
Katsushika Hokusai – Cuckoo and Azaleas, 1834
We love Hokusai’s landscapes and this work has such a gorgeous spring palette. Oh to be a bird swooping through a blue springtime sky…
Pierre-Auguste Renoir – The Swing, 1876
Can we all agree that there aren’t enough low-down swings in public? Good. This lightly flirtatious scene takes place in the warm dappled light of a French park – which is honestly our dream date scenario.
Claude Monet – Garden at Sainte-Adresse, 1867
Monet spent a stretch of time in 1867 in Sainte-Adresse, on the French coast, which is now on our Must Visit list. This composition – showing members of the artist’s family – was likely inspired by a print by Hokusai that Monet had in his home.
Yōshū Chikanobu – Nikko Mesho Series
This work by Chikanobu captures so beautifully one of our favourite things about springtime – the blooming of cherry blossoms. While the artist was better known for his battle-scenes, this work is the vibrant springtime print of our dreams.
Author: Verity Babbs
