After 1985, Mitchell's post-cancer paintings reflect the psychological changes cancer had effected: six "Between" paintings, "Faded Air I", "Faded Air II", the "A Few Days" cycle, the "Before, Again" cycle and the "Then, Last Time" group of four. Also, in the final years of her life Mitchell returned to the subject of sunflowers with renewed focus. In "Sunflowers, 1990–91", she chose to paint the flowers in a state of decay, wanting the work to “convey the feeling of a dying sunflower.”