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Chrysanthemums in the Garden at Petit Gennevilliers by Gustave Caillebotte

Gustave Caillebotte · 1893-01-01

Gustave Caillebotte's "Chrysanthemums in the Garden at Petit Gennevilliers" (1893) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a vivid glimpse into late 19th-century horticulture and the artist's personal world.

Notice the vibrant array of chrysanthemums, from deep reds to pale yellows, set against lush green foliage. Caillebotte's distinctive use of impasto, or thick brushstrokes, brings a tactile quality to each petal, capturing light and the flower's dense texture with remarkable realism.

Though a wealthy patron and supporter of the Impressionists, Caillebotte often painted in a more realistic style, frequently depicting scenes from his own garden at Petit Gennevilliers. This painting, completed shortly before his death in 1894, reflects his enduring interest in botanical subjects and his unique artistic vision.

What details do you notice in these beautiful blooms?

Details

But he painted with a realistic eye, often his own garden.
But he painted with a realistic eye, often his own garden.
This is a chrysanthemum, popular in late 19th-century France.
This is a chrysanthemum, popular in late 19th-century France.
He captures light, depth, and the flower's dense texture.
He captures light, depth, and the flower's dense texture.
Transcript

This painter was a wealthy patron of the Impressionists. But he painted with a realistic eye, often his own garden. This is a chrysanthemum, popular in late 19th-century France. Look at the thick brushstrokes that build each petal. He captures light, depth, and the flower's dense texture. This painting was made in 1893, a year before he died.