Flowers have always been a big part of what makes our world so beautiful but artists often choose to focus on them arguably more than other organic objects in nature because of their unceasing timelessness. Flowers have always been important in societies throughout the world for their lively delicacy and beauty. We see them constantly throughout our daily lives but most of the time we do not think too deeply about them for long. We acknowledge their beauty without truly reflecting on the complexity of them. Painters are often known to choose to work with them no matter what the medium is. The vividness of the colors in the extensive varieties that we have, allows for there to be more than enough room for the expression of further meanings rather than them just being simple objects in nature. Flowers have such a youthful sense of life to them that I think can help artists add a lot of meaning and depth to their paintings since they have such a dramatic life cycle that can be rather easy to showcase. Redon uses color as a way to show emotion to create a deeper meaning in his pieces of art. This use of color offers a compelling and deeper meaning to his viewers even if it is something as simple as a painting of a flower field. Redon did not start painting flowers until later in his life but he received many high accolades for them. I would say though that I do not know if he would have been as revered in his floral paintings if the subject matter wasn’t as timeless as a bouquet of flowers is. Flowers have such a strong powerfulness to them that is often subtle but very precise with its intentionality.
Edgar Degas
A Woman Seated beside a Vase of Flowers (Madame Paul Valpinçon?)
1865, oil on canvas, 29.100.128
A Woman Seated beside a Vase of Flowers is Degas’ way of showing that we can see beauty in the mundane things of this world. Degas focuses on the presence of the woman sitting in a casual setting with the large bouquet not necessarily being the focal point of the painting. Degas uses this approach but also paints a large beautiful bouquet that transforms the whole painting into one that has a deeper meaning. This painting would have completely different connotations if it were not for the dramatic effect that the bouquet gives.
Eugène Delacroix, Basket of Flowers
1848-49, oil on canvas, 67.187.60
The significant and pressing political unrest at this time left room for the painting, Basket of Flowers to be created. This painting led the way for there to be conversations about the political arises that were occuring at the time. He escaped to his country house and completed this masterpiece. Flowers are used here to show how even when the world is in a corrupt and unsettling state, the peacefulness and gentleness of them still shines through. He intended for this painting to get into the Salon of 1849 and he achieved his goal along with another one of his pieces (Basket of Flowers and Fruit) that he completed also at this time.
Clara Peeters, A Bouquet of Flowers, 1612,
Oil on Wood, 2020.22
Peeters played a very important role in the history of European still life which led the way for women to branch out into this genre. She enjoyed painting naturalistic pieces that showed the rawness and organic values of our earth. This painting also has insect bites taken out of the leaves and a butterfly in the bottom left that is resting on a leaf. This shows an element of life that is outside of the realm of just the flowers. I think that the juxtaposition of the forget-me-not flowers that have fallen over her name show a powerful idea of female artists not being not taken seriously in the art world. Women could also be a symbol here of the half-eaten leaves that have been tarnished by men that feast on women and their bodies.
(Unknown Artist)
Rectangular tray with flowering plums and birds, 14th century,
Black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay
2015.500.1.56
This tray shows the early Spring stages of a flowering tree. It is different from the other art that we have looked at since it isn’t a bouquet or landscape of flowers but it shows a better sense of the growing stages of nature. The birds and blossoms also give the sense of life and growth. The detailed work is extensive and spreads across the entirety of the tray. It shows new life and beauty through its elegance and class. This is a very mature piece of art that creates the ability for us to see the immense skill of the artist.
Margareta Haverman, A Vase of Flowers, 1716, Oil on Wood, 71.6
Haverman was gifted at painting flowers from a young age. We can think about how her youth symbolize the idea that flowers have always been present in our societies and with any age group. They are just thought of having different aesthetics to them. This bouquet takes up almost the whole surface but our eyes are drawn to the middle with the white and pinkish peonies. There are predominantly dark flowers all throughout this piece but you can not help but be drawn to the grapes and those center flowers. This is a very full and rich painting but it is not overindulgent either. Over time, these pigments have faded some but we have to ask the question, did Haverman account for this when she was working on this piece. It is so detail oriented that I find it hard to believe that she would have been careless about this.
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