Artwork
Pink Azalea—Chinese Vase
Pink Azalea—Chinese Vase is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist William Merritt Chase. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in oil on wood in 1885, the piece is part of The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The painting presents a pink azalea arranged within a delicate Chinese porcelain vase, a composition that merges Western floral still life with East Asian decorative motifs. The vase and flower serve as emblems of transience and refined elegance, reflecting the late nineteenth-century fascination with exotic objects and the fleeting nature of beauty. Chase's rendering aligns with American Impressionism's emphasis on loose brushwork and atmospheric color, while the work's classification as a still life underscores its focus on everyday objects imbued with symbolic resonance.
Executed in oil on wood in 1885, the piece is part of The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1885, Pink Azalea-Chinese Vase is an oil painting applied to a wood panel support. The work measures approximately 59.7 by 42.1 centimeters and exemplifies the American Impressionist movement through its still-life subject matter. The composition focuses on a floral arrangement, depicting flowers situated within a vase.
Held in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the work demonstrates Chase's engagement with domestic interiors and decorative objects typical of his still-life studies during this period.
History & Provenance
Pink Azalea-Chinese Vase was created by William Merritt Chase in 1885 in oil on a wood panel. Associated with American Impressionism, it depicts a pink azalea in a Chinese vase and measures 59.7 cm in height by 42.1 cm in width. The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in The American Wing under accession number 15.30.2.
It was included in the exhibition 'American Impressionism and Realism: The Painting of Modern Life, 1865-1915,' held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from October 21, 1994, to January 15, 1995.
Overview
William Merritt Chase's Pink Azalea, Chinese Vase, painted in 1885, exemplifies his approach to still life. Executed in oil on wood, this work showcases a vibrant floral arrangement, reflecting the artist's engagement with American Impressionism. Chase was a prominent figure in late 19th-century American art, known for his contributions as both a painter and an educator.
Context
As an influential educator, William Merritt Chase significantly impacted American art. His studies in Europe exposed him to contemporary artistic trends, particularly the loose brushwork and bright colors of Impressionism, which he then introduced to his students. He founded the Chase School, later known as Parsons School of Design, shaping a generation of artists and contributing to the development of American art practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Merritt Chase (November 1, 1849 – October 25, 1916) was an American painter, known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher.
