The artwork “Rose, Peony and Cornflowers in a Green Vase” is a pastel on paper by the artist Odilon Redon. It is associated with the Realism art movement and exemplifies the genre of flower painting. The piece measures 56 by 45.5 centimeters and, as of my knowledge cutoff date, is held in a private collection.
In the artwork, a collection of flowers, which includes a rose, peony, and cornflowers, are beautifully arranged in a distinctly green vase. The colors are vibrant and striking, with the soft texture of pastel creating a delicate interplay of light and shadow. The background is rendered in a gentle, earthy hue, allowing the bold colors of the flowers to stand out prominently. The various textures visible within the composition suggest a tactile quality inherent in the medium of pastel. Attention is drawn to the natural elegance and detail of the plant forms, from the intricate center of the peony to the delicate petals of the cornflowers.
Despite its association with Realism, Redon’s style imbues the piece with a dreamlike, almost ethereal quality, reflecting his unique artistic approach that often straddled the line between the real and the imagined. The artwork is a study in contrasts–the lushness of the botanical subjects against the simplicity of the vase and the soft rendering of pigments against the boldness of the colors used.
