“Flowers in a Vase”, Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin – description of the painting

Description of the picture:

Flowers in a Veil – Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin. 1760-1761. 45 x 37 cm
French painter Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin intended his creative life, mainly, still life. With all this, the artist had a very careful and attentive attitude to this genre. For him there were no insignificant and aesthetically unpresentable objects – whether it was a gutted ramp, an upturned bowler hat or a hare shot for dinner. His work can be compared with a specific chronicle of his own time … a chronicle in objects.

The presented work is distinguished by a concise composition and usual content. Here, unlike many other works of Chardin, there are no parts shocking with their own realism. In front of the viewer is a refined vase with a fresh bouquet of delicate flowers.

The first thing that attracts attention is the high skill of using paints in conveying textures. A snow-white vase is painted with blue glaze, and the sun falling on it gives a mirror glossy shine. Chardin portrayed this moment so subtly that you definitely feel the material of which the vase is made. It seems that they just rubbed the vase with the hand of a caring woman to make it shine even brighter.

Flowers in a vase are depicted in less detail. You can even guess some features of impressionism, although it is still a hundred years old. It should be noted that many impressionists greatly appreciated the work of Chardin. Especially Cezanne.

The color of the picture is based on the contrast of brown tones of the background and bright fresh colors of the main object of the picture – a vase. As a result, the painter does not distract us into the background, providing the opportunity to admire the colors.

Chardin’s paintings have always been distinguished by sincerity and simplicity. That is why he gained fame at the dawn of his career. However, with age, interest in the works of the master began to decline noticeably. The last years of the painter were completely joyless and moneyless. After many years of oblivion, about Chardin, having paid tribute to his talent, they again remembered … so as never to forget."

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