Title: Vase de chrysanthèmes
Artist: Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926)
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 95.3 x 70 cm
Date Created: 1882
Description
This canvas depicts a vibrant bouquet of chrysanthemums in a blown glass vase, part of a series of approximately twenty floral still-lifes Monet painted between 1878 and 1882. While not his primary focus, Monet’s venture into still-life is widely recognized for its radical departure from tradition. Scholars note his emphasis on optical immediacy over physical solidity, achieved through lush compositions and a virtuoso display of colored brushwork.
A lifelong gardener, Monet once credited flowers for making him a painter. His most sustained exploration of the still-life genre occurred during his years at Vétheuil and Poissy (1878-1882). While these works, particularly the floral pieces, found ready commercial success, they also served to showcase his aesthetic ambitions in the genre through contemporary exhibitions.
Monet held a particular fondness for chrysanthemums, a subject connecting to his interest in East Asian art. His chrysanthemum paintings evolved from contained bouquets to later works where blossoms entirely engulf the canvas, foreshadowing the “all-over” composition of his Water Lilies. His friend Gustave Caillebotte shared this passion; they exchanged horticultural advice and paintings. It has been suggested that Monet’s final major chrysanthemum series (1896-1897) may stand as a tribute to his deceased friend Caillebotte.
Image Download
Image Dimensions: 2166 x 3038 pixels
Image Size: 2.14 MB
Image Format: JPG
Print Resolution: 300 dpi
Download Format: ZIP Archive
License: Public Domain, Free for Commercial Use
