Artwork
Vase of Flowers (Pink Background)

Vase of Flowers (Pink Background) is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1906 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As indicated by its title and visual content, the subject matter is strictly limited to these botanical elements and their container.
The work depicts a floral arrangement situated within a vase, set against a pink background. As indicated by its title and visual content, the subject matter is strictly limited to these botanical elements and their container. The provided sources identify the components as flowers and a vase but do not offer specific details regarding deeper iconography, symbolic interpretations, or the broader philosophical meaning Redon intended to convey through this particular composition.
History & Provenance
Odilon Redon painted Vase of Flowers (Pink Background) in 1906. The oil on canvas work depicts a flower arrangement in a vase and measures 72.7 by 54 centimeters. The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains today.
The sources do not provide information about the work's commission, prior owners, or how it entered the museum's collection.
The painting Vase of Flowers (Pink Background) by Odilon Redon is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1906, the work is executed in oil paint on canvas and measures 72.7 cm in height by 54 cm in width. The provided sources confirm its location at the museum but do not list a specific accession number or detail any past exhibitions.
Overview
Odilon Redon, a French Symbolist, created Vase of Flowers (Pink Background) in 1906. This oil painting exemplifies a still life composition, characteristic of the Post-Impressionist era. The work showcases a vibrant floral arrangement set against a soft, monochromatic backdrop, reflecting Redon's later exploration of color and light in his artistic practice.
Technique & Style
This painting employs oil paint with a distinct, textural application, evident in the thick, almost sculptural brushstrokes that define the flowers and foliage. Redon's use of impasto creates a sense of vitality, making the blossoms appear to emerge from the canvas. The vivid palette of reds, whites, and purples contrasts with the delicate pink background, highlighting the artist's command of color and form during this period.
Context
Vase of Flowers (Pink Background) represents a significant phase in Redon's career. After establishing his reputation with the introspective, often somber charcoal and lithograph series known as his noirs, Redon shifted his focus in the 1890s. He increasingly embraced pastels and oils, allowing him to explore a more luminous and colorful aesthetic, moving away from the monochromatic dreamscapes of his earlier work towards vibrant, expressive compositions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Odilon Redon (born Bertrand Redon; French: ; 20 April 1840 – 6 July 1916) was a French Symbolist draftsman, printmaker, and painter.
















