Sweet Peas 1922

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale made this delicate floral illustration, Sweet Peas, using watercolour. Just imagine the artist’s hand, holding the brush, carefully layering the translucent washes of colour to capture the velvety texture of the petals! I can really feel how the artist’s hand moved with such care. Did she have these growing in her own garden? Did she pick them early in the morning while the dew was still on them? She must have been fighting against the clock, as the flowers would inevitably wilt and change as she painted. It makes you think about the fleeting nature of beauty, right? I wonder if she ever felt frustrated when they didn't come out exactly as she wanted them to! This piece reminds me of other botanical artists, like Georgia O’Keeffe, who found so much inspiration in the natural world. Each painting, no matter how realistic, reflects the artist’s interpretation and emotional connection to the subject. It’s like they are speaking to each other across time, each sharing their own way of seeing the world.