Artwork
Still Life with Flowers
Still Life with Flowers is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Technique & Style
The handling of the oil medium allows for the depiction of the flowers' forms and textures within the genre conventions of the time.
Paul Gauguin executed Still Life with Flowers in 1882 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 57 cm in height and 70 cm in width, adhering to the standard format for easel paintings of the period. As a still life, the composition focuses on the formal arrangement of floral subjects.
The handling of the oil medium allows for the depiction of the flowers' forms and textures within the genre conventions of the time.
History & Provenance
Paul Gauguin painted Still Life with Flowers in 1882, creating an oil on canvas work measuring 57 cm by 70 cm. The painting entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek shortly after its creation, where it remains housed today. Its provenance traces directly from Gauguin's studio to the museum's permanent holdings, reflecting continuous ownership since 1882. The work was likely executed as an independent still life rather than a commissioned piece, aligning with Gauguin's practice of producing genre scenes for personal exhibition and sale.
Overview
Created in 1892, Still Life with Flowers is an oil painting on canvas that presents a modest tabletop scene. A dark vase holds a loosely arranged bouquet of vivid reds, whites and yellows, its green foliage spilling over the rim. The composition rests on a light‑colored cloth, while the background is rendered in a swirling blend of blues, greens and pinks, giving the work a dreamlike ambience.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a simple arrangement of cut flowers, yet the tilted stems and the sense of movement suggest a fleeting moment captured in time. The bright palette and the informal placement of the blossoms convey a quiet celebration of natural beauty, aligning with the artist’s interest in expressing emotional resonance through everyday objects.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (; French:; 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903) was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer, whose work has been primarily associated with the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements.
