Emperor Moth (1889) by Vincent van Gogh - Poster
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One day in May 1889, while walking in the asylum garden, Van Gogh spotted a large moth. He described it to Theo as a death’s-head moth, though it was actually an emperor moth. The prominent eye-like markings on its wings are there to deter birds. Van Gogh wrote that painting the moth from life would mean killing it, and it was simply too beautiful to harm.
Here, it settles on broad arum leaves, painted in a range of greens from deep bottle green to soft grey. A handful of red berries bring a touch of colour to the top of the composition. The image feels like a naturalist’s field notebook, made by someone with an artist’s eye.
It would sit comfortably in a bathroom or hallway, or as part of a collection of botanical prints, well suited to the relaxed character of many New Zealand homes. The poster comes in several sizes. Explore more of his garden studies in our Van Gogh nature and flower posters, and read the story of the asylum garden at Saint-Rémy in our journal.
- Premium wall art tailored for New Zealand homes, printed and shipped from New Zealand.
- Standard NZ delivery: 3–6 business days via our New Zealand logistics partner. Please note that framed posters require 2–5 additional business days to allow for custom assembly and secure packaging.
- All posters are printed on demand in New Zealand using high-quality FSC-certified 200 gsm paper for a durable and eco-conscious finish.
- Complimentary framing service! Your poster arrives fully framed and ready to hang, at no extra charge.
- High-quality oak frames that blend seamlessly with both modern and classic interiors.
- Our framed posters are protected by high-quality, shatterproof plexiglass.
- Local production and dispatch within New Zealand ensure faster delivery and lower environmental impact.
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