Bouquet of Flowers

Odilon Redon

ca. 1900–1905 · Pastel on paper · European Paintings

As a young man, Redon was fascinated with Darwinian biology and enjoyed a close friendship with Armand Clavaud, the curator of the botanical gardens in his hometown of Bordeaux. In late floral still lifes such as this one, the artist demonstrated a naturalist’s sense of wonder as well as a richly inventive imagination, combining many different types of blooms and foliage in an effervescent display, attended by fluttering butterflies. The vase, which appears in a number of Redon's flower pictures, was made and presented to him by the ceramicist Marie Botkin around 1900.

Artist

Odilon Redon

Date

ca. 1900–1905

Medium

Pastel on paper

Department

European Paintings

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. George B. Post, 1956