May 22, or 23, 1890. Coming from South-France, Vincent enjoys the spring a second time. The chestnut trees along the road are just blossoming. He paints the old trees with their showy blossoms, and breaks off the branches in order to paint them along with rhododendron in a vase that is merely hinted; the heavy tassels lean over, and in formal contrast to the spreading leaves, they crowd the surface of the picture. Japanese influence is evident here too, especially as the artist, eschewing the representational, puts the blossoming twigs on a bluish-green, vibrantly structured background. (http://www.tfsimon.com/auvers-sur-oise.html)