Bouquet de fleurs dans un vase (Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase)
Painting on panel or canvas-backed paper • Odilon Redon (1840–1916)
Style & Movement
Symbolism / Post-Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas (alternatively oil on cardboard); employs delicate impasto in the floral petals and a cross-hatched, scumbled technique in the neutral background to create a shimmering atmospheric effect.
Creation Period
Circa 1905–1910
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 40 x 30 cm; Portrait format
Subject Description
A vibrant bouquet featuring daisies, cornflowers, and poppies arranged in a textured, iridescent ceramic vase. The composition emphasizes the contrast between the ephemeral nature of the wildflowers and the solid, earthy presence of the vase, set against an abstract, luminous background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the paint layer appears stable with minor surface grime and aging craquelure consistent with early 20th-century oil paintings.
Estimated Market Value
$250,000 - $450,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$200,000 - $400,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely sourced from a French private collection; Redon's late flower paintings were often sold through galleries like Durand-Ruel or Bernheim-Jeune. A signature is visible in the lower right corner.
Art Historical Significance
Representing Redon's late period 'radiance,' this work marks his transition from the dark, monochromatic 'noirs' to vibrant floral studies. These flowers are seen as vehicles for color and light, moving toward a spiritual or dream-like abstraction that influenced modernists like Henri Matisse.
Notable Features
The specific use of 'bleu de France' in the cornflowers is a hallmark of Redon’s late palette. The signature is integrated into the bottom right quadrant, and the vase demonstrates the artist's interest in decorative arts and Japanese aesthetics.
Condition Issues
Slight yellowing of the protective varnish; minor abrasions along the frame edge; fine mechanical craquelure in the thicker white lead areas of the daisies.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning and a light varnish refresh; framing in a period-appropriate Louis XV or XVI style gilt frame; display in a climate-controlled environment away from direct UV light.
Collector Notes
Odilon Redon