Artwork
The Basket of Flowers
The Basket of Flowers is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Frederick Carl Frieseke. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: F.C. Frieseke.
About this work
Technique & Style
As an oil-on-canvas composition, the piece relies on the traditional handling of pigments to render its floral subject matter.
Frederick Carl Frieseke created The Basket of Flowers in 1913 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work is executed as a square painting, measuring 81.4 cm in height and 81.5 cm in width. As an oil-on-canvas composition, the piece relies on the traditional handling of pigments to render its floral subject matter.
The painting is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains part of the institution's permanent holdings.
History & Provenance
The Basket of Flowers was painted by Frederick Carl Frieseke in 1913, executed in oil on canvas.
The earliest documented owner was Alex M. Hudnut of New York, who held the painting until 1931. It was then offered at the American Art Association on 12 November 1931, listed as lot 16 in the sale. Following that auction, the work entered the collection of Chester Dale (1883–1962) in New York.
Dale bequeathed the painting in 1963 to the National Gallery of Art, where it remains held in the collection.
The Basket of Flowers entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1963 as a bequest from Chester Dale. Before joining the museum, the painting was owned by Alex M. Hudnut of New York until 1931, when it was sold at the American Art Association on November 12 of that year. Dale acquired the work following this sale and retained it until his death.
The provided sources do not contain specific inventory numbers or a record of public exhibitions for this artwork.
Legacy
The Basket of Flowers continues to be recognized for its luminous depiction of light and intimate domestic scenes, exemplifying Frieseke's Impressionist-influenced style. Its inclusion in the National Gallery of Art's collection has ensured ongoing scholarly attention and public access, contributing to a reassessment of Frieseke's role within early twentieth-century American art. The painting's provenance, from Alex M. Hudnut to Chester Dale and ultimately to the National Gallery of Art, underscores its established place in museum histories.
Overview
Frederick Carl Frieseke, an American painter who spent much of his professional life in France, completed the oil on canvas titled The Basket of Flowers around 1915. The work belongs to his mature period, when he was active in the Giverny artists’ community that embraced French Impressionist ideas. It presents a quiet interior scene centered on a woman and a floral arrangement.
Subject & Meaning
A young woman seated in a simple chair holds a woven basket brimming with blossoms. She wears a white dress accented by a blue shawl, her dark hair gathered in a bun, and her gaze is directed downward toward the flowers. The composition emphasizes contemplation and the gentle pleasure of observing nature’s fleeting beauty.
Context
The work exemplifies the transatlantic exchange that defined early‑twentieth‑century Impressionism, where American artists adopted French techniques while retaining personal subjects. Frieseke’s focus on intimate, sunlit interiors aligns with the broader Giverny colony’s interest in capturing everyday moments bathed in natural light.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Carl Frieseke (April 7, 1874 – August 24, 1939) was an American Impressionist painter who spent most of his life as an expatriate in France.
