Maurice de Vlaminck (French, 1876–1958), The Wheat Field (Champs de Blé), ca. 1906. Oil on canvas, 25 15/16 × 32 3/16 in. (65.9 × 81.8 cm). Milwaukee Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lynde Bradley. M1953.12. Photo: Cleber Bonato. © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris.
One of a group of artists called the Fauves, or “wild beasts,” Vlaminck was greatly influenced by the work of Vincent van Gogh and admired his use of thick paint applied in swirling, expressive strokes. Like van Gogh, Vlaminck was drawn to the image of wheat fields and painted them throughout his career. In this scene, the artist used bright, clashing color applied with spontaneous brushstrokes to caption the movement of the wind-blown stalks.
