Irises was painted by van gogh just a year before his death while he was living at the asylum in saint rmy de provence france he was influenced by by japanese ukiyo e woodblock prints in his composition and use of strong outlines the blue iris flowers are in a asymmetric position and set off by the brown soil and profusion of green leaves in 1987 it became the most expensive painting ever sold it is now in the collection of the j paul getty museum in los angeles