It was during my “Voyage Van Gogh” (a never-ending journey) that I gained such an appreciation for sunflowers from Van Gogh. Before that my only real encounter with sunflowers was as a child. Our small town doctor had a very large sunflower garden.
Even though this sole sunflower is not large or especially radiant, it is the “center of attention” no matter where you look on the painting. The only way you can look at another part of the painting and not see the sunflower is by covering it up – but you will still see it in “your mind’s eye.”