“Peony Stem and Shears,” depicted above, is an exquisite still life artwork created by the renowned artist Edouard Manet in 1864. This oil on canvas piece belongs to the Realism art movement and measures 57 by 46 centimeters. It is currently held at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France.
In the artwork, Manet masterfully presents a simple yet evocative arrangement of a peony stem along with a pair of shears. The backdrop is a subdued, warm-toned setting that contrasts with the vibrant red and white hues of the peonies. The detailed rendering of the leaves’ greens adds further depth, while the shears rest prominently in the foreground, suggesting a recent act of cutting. The composition, with its restrained color palette and realistic depiction, effectively captures the essence of still life, embodying a transient moment frozen in time.
