A Vase of Flowers
- Artist: Paul Gauguin
- Date: 1896
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Vase of Flowers" by Paul Gauguin. Painted in 1896, this work showcases the artist's fascination with exotic flowers and his unique approach to still life painting. The vibrant red bougainvillea and hibiscus, white and yellow frangipani, and large blue leaves bursting out of a dark clay pot create a visually striking composition.
What's interesting is that Gauguin may have started this bouquet as a study of an actual floral arrangement but finished it from his imagination. This is evident in the dream-like quality of the painting, which is reminiscent of his Tahitian figure paintings. The delicate interweaving of reds, creams, and blues against the golden background takes center stage, rather than the horticultural detail.
Gauguin's inspirations for this work are complex, drawing from various sources such as French art, Van Gogh's sunflower paintings, and his own experiences in Tahiti. This painting reflects the artist's exuberant imagination and his ability to transform reality into something almost hallucinogenic.
See it in person
A Vase of Flowers hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
