Artwork
Roses in a vase
Roses in a vase is a watercolor work on paper by the Art Nouveau artist Piet Mondrian. It dates from 1939 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Piet Mondrian’s 1939 watercolor titled Roses in a Vase presents a modest still‑life composition. The work features a clear glass vessel holding a cluster of roses rendered in pink and red hues, set against a muted background. The artist’s signature appears on the surface, confirming its authorship.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on a simple arrangement of roses, their blossoms and foliage depicted with a light, informal touch. By choosing a familiar floral motif, Mondrian explores the transient beauty of nature, emphasizing the quiet presence of the flowers rather than any overt symbolic narrative.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor, the piece displays Mondrian’s characteristic handling of the medium: translucent washes, visible brushstrokes, and a delicate layering that conveys both texture and fragility. The loose rendering of the petals contrasts with the subtle, uniform tone of the background, creating a balanced yet understated visual harmony.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1930s, the work belongs to a period when Mondrian briefly returned to representational subjects before fully embracing his abstract language. The painting bears his signature, indicating it was likely completed and possibly exhibited during his final years in the Netherlands, though specific exhibition records are not documented.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan (Dutch:; 7 March 1872 – 1 February 1944), known after 1911 as Piet Mondrian (, US also; Dutch: ), was a Dutch painter and art theoretician, who is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.
A Vase of Flowers![Roses in a Bottle [recto], by Paul Cézanne](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-cezanne--roses-in-a-bottle-recto--7d8cab3439e09800-w320.webp)
Roses in a Bottle [recto]
Rosa Sera
Flowers
Flowers in a Bowl
Flowers in a vase /Asters/
Eboșă cu un vas de sticlă cu flori roșii așezat pe un suport în jumătatea din stânga a lucrării. În jumătatea din dreapta, mult în spate față de vasul cu flori, un alt vas de sticlă, mic, cu trei pensule. Fundal ocru, colorat cu pastă violet și albastră în marginea din dreapta a lucrării. Flori vag schițate cu roșu și alb, iar suportul este acoperit cu un material în dungi colorate în portocaliu, alternând cu gri și violet. Semnat și datat cu violet și brun, stânga jos: Craiu (19)76.